Gurgaon: A study will soon be conducted in the city to identify waste-burning hotspots, as MCG plans to implement a ‘zero open waste burning’ model to curb a major source of air pollution.The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the research organisation WRI India, which will provide technical support to address two environmental concerns in the city: open waste burning and improper management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.A meeting was held on Friday under the chairmanship of MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya and attended by joint commissioner Ravinder Yadav, WRI India’s Kumar Kumaraswamy and Bhavya Sharma among other officials.At the meeting, officials discussed the proposed study, which will map areas across the city where incidents of waste burning are most frequent. The assessment will also examine the reasons behind the practice to help design targeted interventions.As part of the initiative, MCG and WRI India will pilot the ‘zero open waste burning’ model in selected residential communities. Under this, ‘community champions’ will be identified and trained within residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) to help monitor waste disposal practices and support the campaign at the grassroot level.“The objective of this joint effort is to work towards clean air, better waste management and sustainable environmental solutions in the city, so that it can be made cleaner, healthier and pollution-free,” Dahiya said.Based on the findings, the civic body plans to roll out awareness and capacity-building programmes for municipal staff, RWAs, schools and colleges to encourage behavioural change and discourage waste burning.Officials said the project will include regular impact assessments to measure whether the steps taken as part of the initiative reduce waste-burning incidents and related emissions.“The collaboration will also focus on improving the management of C&D waste, another contributor to dust pollution in the city. Locations where this waste is illegally dumped will be identified and drives conducted to clear accumulated debris,” officials said.MCG also plans to develop a comprehensive C&D waste management system, including decentralised collection points, improved transport arrangements and stronger processing facilities. The use of recycled C&D materials in construction activities will also be promoted.The meeting was attended by joint commissioner Ravinder Yadav and members of WRI India’s air quality team, including programme director Kumar Kumaraswamy and senior programme manager Bhavya Sharma, among others.
