Extensive real estate activities currently going in Vizag have made it important for the city to take construction waste management seriously.
Even as the town planning wing has made provisions for debris disposal, vendors connected to real estate projects don’t seem inclined to dump the waste in designated areas. Consequently, debris often get dumped near residential areas or hospitals impeding regular movement.
Be it residential areas such as Yendada, Sagarnagar or Gajuwaka or the space around Government Chest Hospital in Peda Waltair, construction debris can be found in heaps. The debris are not just an eyesore but also clog drains and turn the area into a dump of sorts.
According to GVMC records, around 90,000 tonnes of construction waste was collected by the town planning department over the last two years. Speaking to assistant city planner (construction and debris waste management) S Mahapatra said, “Since April 2020 to February 2021, we collected spot fines worth Rs 2,34,200, which is very low compared to the actual unauthorised debris dumped.”
“When fines are imposed, violators argue and show various reasons for not disposing debris and not paying more than Rs 1,000 which is a loss for GVMC. This is because, for a single trip with debris from a construction site to Kappulupada dumping yard on a tipper lorry will cost around Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 including labour and diesel charges,” Mahapatra added.
Mahapatra further said: “We have an agency to collect debris from construction points. But again, there are travel and timing restrictions for big tipper lorries for entering core construction areas inside the city. Some construction or demolition sites are inside such narrow lanes or at places where road connectivity is still absent making it impossible for our vehicles to enter.”
Ashok Reddy, project manager of Pro Enviro C&D waste management, an agency working with GVMC, said, “We charge Rs 360 per tonne of debris collected but vendors of construction projects give it to third party to collect at a cheaper rate from the construction site and throw it in the nearest colonies after midnight.”
“Usually, CCTVs and guards are not present in such places to check who is dumping the waste. Although the GVMC town planning department can impose fines of up to Rs 10,000 per vehicle, it cannot seize the vehicles for unauthorised dumping. Police will have to be vigilant and catch them,” added Reddy.