Soon, construction material, such as slabs and kerb stones, will be available at much cheaper rates from the state-run Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste recycling plants in Chandigarh.
Under the draft Chandigarh Construction and Demolition Waste Management Policy, 2021, which was approved by the Chandigarh administration on Wednesday, generators of C&D waste ((known locally as malba) will be allowed to take processed material costing 50% of the processing charges for free.
The products available at subsidised rates include washed sand, filling sand/silt, crushed aggregates (10, 20 and 40 mm), and PCC products made of recycled aggregates (paver blocks, kerbs, channels, tiles, etc).
“After taking the election commission’s consent, the administration will be putting the draft policy in public domain for comments and suggestions for 21 days,” said UT adviser Dharam Pal.
Processing charges
Under the policy, it will be mandatory for all generators of C&D waste — public or private, from a dwelling unit or a shop to an industrial unit or government department — to shift the malba to the processing plant.
While reconstructing a residential or commercial property, people will have to pay C&D waste processing charges of ₹170 per square metre of the total covered area of all floors to be demolished. For a new construction, charges will be ₹20 per square metre of the total proposed covered area of all floors to be constructed at the time of building plan approval. Charges will be increased by 10% annually (on base rate) every April 1.
Waste generators for whom the building plan approval is not required or who have got it approved before the policy’s notification will be liable to pay a processing fee of ₹220 per metric ton along with GST. This fee will also be increased by 10% annually.
Penalty for dumping waste
According to the draft policy, dumping of C&D waste at public or non-designated places will invite a heavy penalty.
Transporters/generators will be challaned at the rate of ₹5,500 per vehicle for dumping unprocessed waste illegally. The penalty will be increased by ₹500 annually.
The authority to issue the challan will rest with the subdivional engineer/junior engineer of the road wing and enforcement inspectors of the municipal corporation. In case of any dispute, the MC commissioner or any official authorised by him/her may settle the issue.
