Gurgaon: During a one-day training session on construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, experts told MCG officials that dust from roads, soil and construction activities accounted for 42% of PM10 pollution in the Delhi-NCR, making C&D waste a major, but often overlooked, source of air pollution. The training session, held at MCG’s office and organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), briefed civic officials on dust control strategies and recycling models drawn from cities participating in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). If not disposed of properly, C&D waste causes blockage of water bodies, urban flooding, land instability and eats into green areas, experts said. About 80% to 90% of C&D waste can be recycled and reused, and if measures such as road management, material handling and wind barriers are used at construction sites, PM10 emissions can be reduced by 64% to 79%, they said.Additional commissioner Yash Jaluka said, “MCG will adopt a solid strategy for scientific management of C&D waste and dust control, and suggestions received from the training will be implemented in a phased manner.” He added, “C&D waste management is not just a matter of garbage disposal, but an issue directly linked to clean air, resource efficiency and climate protection. C&D waste management has now become not an option but a necessity in the direction of clean and sustainable cities.”Experts at the training said the NCAP study made it clear that a comprehensive ecosystem approach, including bylaws, fee structure, collection mechanism, processing capacity and mandatory demand for recycled products, can provide sustainable solutions.
