Building owners may face denial of occupancy certificates (OCs) if they do not adequately manage the disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is poised to enforce stricter regulations to address this issue shortly.
In this context, the state government has resolved to implement mandatory requirements for building owners to present their C&D waste disposal certificate when applying for occupancy certificates with GHMC. The authorities are anticipated to release a Government Order (GO) regarding these regulations in the coming weeks. Officials stress that this initiative will aid in diminishing illegal dumping on roadways, vacant lots, and water bodies, which has emerged as a significant environmental issue.
The processed C&D waste has the potential to be recycled into construction materials such as paver blocks and sand substitutes. “According to the proposed regulations, property owners are required to hire C&D waste collection agencies to transport debris to designated processing facilities. They must keep accurate records indicating the volume of waste produced and the method of its disposal.
This certificate will be a compulsory requirement for securing the occupancy certificate from GHMC. Additionally, we will enhance the penalties for improper disposal of C&D waste,” stated a senior official from the sanitation division of GHMC.
Estimates suggest that Hyderabad produces around 2,000 metric tonnes of C&D waste daily. The city has four C&D waste processing plants located in Jeedimetla, Fathullaguda, Shamshabad, and Thumukunta, where residents can deposit their waste. Currently, a fine of 5,000 is levied on individual households, while a penalty of 25,000 is imposed on bulk waste producers, including builders, contractors, institutions, and commercial entities, for each infraction involving the transportation or disposal of C&D waste in an unauthorized or hazardous manner.
The GHMC will also carry out consistent monitoring and impose fines on those who are found to be improperly disposing of debris. Building owners who do not adhere to the new regulations may experience delays or the rejection of their occupancy certificates. In addition, through a comprehensive challan management system (CCMS), the GHMC has issued almost 4,000 penalties totaling 70 lakh to both residents and commercial entities for a range of littering violations.
