Dehradun: Uttarakhand's first construction and demolition waste processing plant is set to be established at Mothrowala in Dehradun, with land identified and environmental clearance obtained for the project, officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) said on Monday.
Deputy municipal commissioner Tanvir Marwah stated that the pollution control board has approved the site and the tendering process is currently underway. "The project will take at least four months to complete," he added. The civic body currently collects approximately 150 metric tonnes of construction waste every month.
When asked whether the municipal corporation had identified an official dumping ground for construction debris, Marwah explained that the waste is presently being dumped at the site designated for the processing plant. "Since a plant will come up there to process the debris, we are getting the waste dumped there," he said.
Officials noted that the facility, announced in 2024 under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), will convert construction debris into reusable materials such as bricks and blocks. This initiative is aimed at reducing dust pollution in the city.
The move comes amid growing concerns over indiscriminate dumping of construction waste across Dehradun. "Debris is dumped on footpaths and roads, blocking pathways and creating problems for pedestrians. Some of it is also dumped inside drains, choking them ahead of the monsoon," said Pooja Thakur, a resident of Yamuna Colony.
Mokhampur resident Naveen Chaudhary remarked, "Improper disposal of debris was also harming the environment. Construction waste gets mixed with rivers and regular garbage. It is harmful for animals too, as they rummage through the waste for food."
