HYDERABAD: Building owners may be denied occupancy certificates (OCs) if they do not dispose of construction and demolition (C&D) waste properly, as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) plans to implement stricter regulations soon.
In this regard, the state government has decided to require building owners to submit a C&D waste disposal certificate when applying for occupancy certificates with the GHMC. A government order regarding these regulations is expected within the next few weeks.
Officials stress that this initiative aims to reduce illegal dumping on roadways, vacant lots, and water bodies, which has become a significant environmental issue. The processed C&D waste can be recycled into construction materials like paver blocks and substitutes for sand.
“Under the proposed guidelines, property owners must hire C&D waste collection agencies to transport debris to designated processing sites. They will also need to keep thorough documentation of the amount of waste generated and its disposal method. This certificate will be a requirement for obtaining the occupancy certificate from GHMC. We will also increase penalties for improper disposal of C&D waste,” said a senior official from the GHMC sanitation wing.
Hyderabad generates roughly 2,000 metric tonnes of C&D waste daily. Four processing facilities for C&D waste are located in Jeedimetla, Fathullaguda, Shamshabad, and Thumukunta, where residents can deposit their waste. Currently, fines of 5,000 are imposed on individual households, while bulk waste producers, including builders and contractors, face penalties of 25,000 per violation for transporting or disposing of C&D waste improperly.
GHMC will conduct regular monitoring and enforce penalties on those found improperly disposing of debris. Building owners who do not adhere to the new guidelines could experience delays or rejections of their occupancy certificates.
In the meantime, the GHMC has issued nearly 4,000 penalties totaling 70 lakh to residents and commercial entities for various littering offenses, under a comprehensive challan management system (CCMS).
