Gurgaon to enforce two-stage checks of demolition waste before construction and occupancy
Delhi-NCR is being pushed into a system where every kilogram of construction and demolition (C&D) waste must be traceable. From April 1, anyone undertaking construction, renovation or demolition on plots of 200 sq metres or more in Gurgaon will be required to show exactly where their waste went, according to the new directions issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Demolition waste — in the biggest shift — will have to be accounted for twice, once before construction begins and once again before a building is allowed to be occupied. The long-running practice of off-loading debris onto roadsides, vacant plots or forest edges will no longer slip through the cracks. Builders and homeowners will have to declare, at the plan-approval stage, how much debris they expect to generate. A Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) official said, "If demolition is part of their project, they will be required to take the waste to an authorised C&D collection or processing facility and produce a formal receipt. This receipt will become a core document not only for starting construction but also for obtaining completion and occupation certificates. A structure may be finished, but unless this paperwork is in order, it cannot legally be occupied." These requirements place significant responsibility on govt agencies as well. To make compliance realistic, CAQM directed Gurgaon's civic and planning bodies to ensure there is at least one authorised C&D waste collection point within every 5km by 5km grid of the city. This means MCG and other development authorities must identify locations, notify them and put in place the infrastructure needed for regular collection, storage and processing. The presence of a designated drop-off facility in every grid effectively removes the excuses that historically justified dumping waste in open spaces. The directions also reshape the role of municipal bodies. They will now be responsible for ensuring that debris is transported and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. This involves verifying transport routes, preventing trucks from diverting loads to unauthorised spots and making sure that waste actually reaches the notified facilities. "Construction and demolition dust is a year-round source of particulate pollution in cities like Gurgaon, but enforcement has been weak because responsibility is fragmented," executive director at Centre for Science and Environment Anumita Roychowdhury said, adding, "Linking waste disposal to building approvals and completion certificates is important because it creates a clear compliance trail and makes local authorities accountable, not just builders." To strengthen oversight across the NCR, the directions call for a digital tracking system built jointly by the govts of Haryana and Delhi. This system will feature geo-tagged waste-collection points and GPS-tracked vehicles carrying debris. Every trip will leave a digital trail, from the plot it originated on to the facility where it was dropped. Missing waste, route deviations or unexplained gaps in the chain can then be flagged in real time, making it difficult for anyone to dispose of debris stealthily. For a city where construction debris for years accumulated along highways, drains and the Aravali foothills, the responsibility to close these loopholes now falls squarely on civic systems. Regulation and enforcement will largely rest with HSPCB, which will be expected to monitor whether waste-collection points and processing facilities are functional, whether they are meeting environmental norms for dust suppression and run-off control and whether they are receiving and processing debris as per the rules. "We will also have the authority to act against illegal dumping, including issuing notices and imposing environmental compensation. In addition, C&D processing plants will fall under our inspection regime, requiring them to comply with air and water pollution standards," the HSPCB official said.