New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi government to take "immediate" steps to enhance the capacity of its Burari plant in north-west Delhi for reutilisation and recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste material.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar noted there is "dire need" for preventing the pollution of air from dust keeping in mind public health.
"Construction activity is one of the very significant facets of development, however, it is one of the serious contributors of air pollution by generating dust...
"It is undisputed on record that NCR, Delhi is generating nearly 4000 MT of C&D waste every day and the capacity of the plant is not able to utilised even 10 per cent of such generated waste," the bench said.
The C&D waste recycling plant is working on a public- private-partnership basis.
The bench asked all builders to ensure that C&D waste is transported according to its orders to the sites and due record maintained by the builders and transporters in NCR-Delhi.
"We make it clear that even if constructions have been started after seeking environmental clearance under the EIA notification 2006... But is being carried out without taking the preventive and protective environmental steps as stated in this order and MoEF guidelines, 2010, the state government, SPCB and any officer of any department as shall be entitled to direct stoppage of work," it said.
The bench made it clear that, "It is not only legal but even a social and corporate responsibility of all the builders to carry on construction activity or mining activity strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules."
Cracking the whip on the real estate sector, the NGT on April 10 had directed builders in the National Capital Region to stop all construction activities if they had not implemented the environmental guidelines laid down by the government in 2010.
It had passed a slew of directions to check air pollution caused by dust emanating from construction sites in NCR.
