the mounting issue of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, Gurugram Municipal Corporation (MCG) has decided to terminate the contracts of nine private agencies responsible for the collection and management of construction debris. The decision, which comes in response to rising complaints about uncollected waste across the city, highlights the growing challenges in waste management for rapidly urbanizing areas like Gurugram.
The MCG has cited substandard performance as the main reason behind the termination of these agencies. Despite receiving payment, with one agency having been paid ₹50 lakh for waste collection, the agencies failed to meet expectations in effectively managing the collection and disposal of construction waste. With approximately 5 lakh metric tonnes of construction debris scattered across roads and public spaces, the issue has become a significant problem for residents and authorities alike. To address this, MCG has proposed a ₹9 crore initiative to collect and properly dispose of the waste, which includes creating a more organized system to manage the scattered debris. The initiative is designed to ensure that construction waste is collected and disposed of at a designated site, reducing public inconvenience and improving the city’s cleanliness. However, the process has been delayed by the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) department, which has yet to create guidelines for hiring new private agencies for debris management. In the absence of these guidelines, MCG has taken the matter into its own hands, securing approval from the MCG commissioner to launch a new initiative for waste collection.
Nijesh Kumar, Executive Engineer for the Swachh Bharat Mission, explained, “The file to cancel the contract of all nine agencies has been put up since they failed to perform their duties. There is no room for inefficiency. We need a new company for construction waste management, which is why we have made this proposal to lift 5 lakh metric tonnes of trash from the city.”
Currently, the Basai facility, which processes 300 metric tonnes of construction waste daily, has its collection limited to a 15 km radius around the plant. This has created gaps in waste management in other areas, leading to illegal dumping and growing public dissatisfaction. A resident of Saraswati Kunj, Rahul Gupta, shared his frustration, stating, “I have complained about illegal C&D waste dumping behind my house more than 50 times, but no action has been taken. Trucks start dumping waste early in the morning, and the problem continues despite repeated complaints.” The Demolition Waste Management Rules of 2016 mandate that waste generators must store their debris on-site or deliver it to authorized collection centers. However, local authorities, like MCG, are responsible for transporting and processing the waste, which has become increasingly difficult due to the lack of effective management. As MCG moves forward with plans to overhaul its approach, the city is hopeful that the new initiatives will not only tackle the growing waste crisis but also set a model for other rapidly developing urban areas facing similar challenges.
