Chapter 2: Construction and Demolition Wastes

2.6. PRESENT USES OR DISPOSAL METHODS

       The Construction and demolition wastes are commonly used for the purpose of filling/levelling low-lying areas, landfilling, in road subgrade, etc. but these waste contains many valuable materials which can be recycled for the further use in the manufacturing/casting of new products or construction units. Hence landfilling is not a solution for the concrete waste. Being predominantly inert in nature, C & D waste does not create chemical or Bio-chemical pollution.Hence maximum effort should make to reuse and recycle. It also caused impacts on environment including the underground water contamination, economical impacts and social impacts as well. The landfilling of the construction and demolition wastes is a common method of disposal in these days but it is not sufficient way of reducing these waste. Landfilling has many disadvantages like; spaces are required for landfilling site, create pollution around the landfilling sites, cause underground water contamination, etc

2.7. CDW STATISTICS OF DELHI (Year: 2013)

       Indian construction industry is highly employment intensive and accounts for approximately 50% of the capital out lay in successive 5-year plans of our country. The projected investment in this industrial sector continues to show a growing trend. Central Pollution Control Board has estimated current quantum of solid waste generation in India to the tune of 48 million tons/annum of which waste from construction industry accounts for 25%. The total quantum of waste from construction industry is estimated to be 12 to 14.7 million tons per annum. But the stat has been change & increasing annually.

The National Capital is facing the risk of being buried under its own debris. Around 4,000 tonnes of construction waste is generated in Delhi every day, which is being dumped into the already polluted Yamuna and the protected Ridge area, choking them further.

And this continues despite an order by the National Green Tribunal on September 24 last year to both the Delhi and Noida police along with other authorities to prevent dumping of the construction waste into the Yamuna. While the Delhi ridge forests are considered the lungs of the Capital, the Yamuna accounts for more than 70 per cent of Delhi's water needs.

"Dumping the construction and demolition (C&D) waste into the water bodies leads to contamination of the water supply. It also leads to environmental degradation and makes rivers susceptible to floods. Moreover, there is no scientific method followed at the disposal sites, where waste is disposed without any processing.