The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is set to amend its building rules to make it mandatory for everyone to take adequate precautionary measures before demolishing a building to stop air pollution.
A number of measures have also been made compulsory to deal with bulk generation of waste following demolition of a big building or a huge concrete structure.
Those razing a particular structure have to ensure that demolition debris don’t get mixed with other solid waste. Additionally, they must make sure the debris are kept on the premises. Littering or deposition of demolition waste has been prohibited as this might not only contribute to the growing air pollution but also create hurdles in traffic movement.
Disposal of demolition waste, like concrete, steel, bricks, mortar and plastic, will be segregated and the applicant will also need to give an undertaking that all stipulated measures will be followed to control air pollution at the site. The applicant will also have to bear the expense of transportation if the civic solid waste manage department is approached to take such debris away.
According to a buildings department official, an implementation committee for the national clean air programme had, in July, suggested incorporating certain restrictions in the KMC buildings rules in case of demolition of a structure with a view to protecting the air in the city.
Accordingly, the KMC top brass decided to amend the rules — rule 20 — that will accommodate the norms of construction and demolition waste management. When building rule 20 gets amended, it will put some restrictions on demolition of a building or concrete structure.
According to the new set of KMC building rules, those applying for bulk waste generation will need to submit a waste management plan to the buildings and solid waste management departments. If the estimated waste generation is more than 20 tonnes a day or 300 tonnes in a month, prior approval must be sought from the municipal commissioner. The buildings department will seek an undertaking from an architect or the Licenced Building Surveyor that certain measures would be taken in case a lot of building wastes are generated after demolition.
Earlier, anyone applying for demolition of a building would just intimate the date of demolition. There was no restriction on grounds of pollution.
