On an average Noida generates around 250 to 300 tonnes of construction waste daily. And what happens to this malba? It’s simply left on the roadsides, pulling down the city’s air quality even further. But not any longer — Noida Authority will soon hire a private agency to recycle the construction waste into bricks.
The agency is also expected to set up a plant to that end.
A tender was floated in January this year to hire an operator for the facility. Only IL&FS, which already operates a similar plant in Delhi, responded to the tender.
RS Yadav, project engineer of Noida Authority, told City Spidey, “We opened the tender thrice, and only IL&FS came forward. The agency will carry out the treatment of construction and demolition waste and will recycle it to manufacture bricks. The bricks will be both used and sold by the private agency.”
Noida Authority initially wanted to install the plant on a plot in Sector 85, but had to abandon the idea owing to opposition from villagers and residents. It is now in search of a new location.
Vikrant Tongad, environment conservationist, and also the founder of Social Action for Forest & Environment (SAFE), welcomed the decision. “This is the proper way to treat construction waste and there are more than 250 construction sites in Noida and Greater Noida. If the agency recycles the construction waste, its really good news,” he opined.
