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The Delhi government has made it compulsory for all departments and agencies to use recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste in ongoing and upcoming public projects. The move, aligned with the central government's sustainability framework, links payment clearance to compliance and sets quarterly reviews for progress assessment. Despite a target of nearly one million metric tonnes of recycled material for the fiscal year, the city has so far utilised only a small portion, highlighting the need for stronger execution and coordination among civic bodies.
The Delhi Urban Development Minister, Ashish Sood, announced that all government departments, civic agencies, and public sector undertakings must incorporate recycled construction and demolition (C&D) waste in their building and infrastructure works. He stated that payments would be withheld if departments failed to meet prescribed utilisation targets, with compliance to be monitored through quarterly progress reviews. Advertisement
The directive follows the national Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which mandate the adoption of recycled materials in public works to reduce environmental degradation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had instructed all states to enforce similar measures, and Delhi has now formalised its implementation through this directive.
As per official data, while the capital's agencies were tasked with using around 9.85 lakh metric tonnes of recycled C&D waste during the ongoing fiscal year, only about 52,000 MT has been consumed so far. The underachievement underscores operational hurdles in collection, processing, and supply chain management.
The order applies to agencies including the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), municipal corporations, power utilities, and other construction-linked bodies. The government's enforcement approach linking fund disbursement with compliance is expected to push departments to actively participate in sustainable material adoption. Officials will conduct periodic reviews to ensure targets are met and to address challenges encountered in project execution.
The Delhi government's decision to enforce the use of recycled C&D waste across all public construction projects marks a significant step towards sustainable infrastructure management. By integrating financial accountability and regular monitoring, the administration aims to curb indiscriminate dumping and promote circular construction practices. However, the limited use recorded so far reveals systemic gaps in recycling infrastructure and coordination. Effective execution will depend on improved waste processing capacity, streamlined logistics, and greater inter-departmental cooperation to realise the city's environmental goals.
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