Can construction waste plant truly combat pollution in Lucknow?

Time of India

a day ago

LUCKNOW
:
Lucknow Municipal Corporation
's construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling plant in Harikansh Garhi, Mohanlalganj recycles nearly 150 tonnes of waste every day.
On the eve of World Environment Day, TOI visited the facility to assess its on-ground impact and contribution to reducing pollution in the city.
According to data, Lucknow generates approximately 250 to 300 tonnes of C&D waste daily. However, only 100 to 150 tonnes—primarily from small-scale construction and home renovation activities—are collected on a regular basis.
The task of collecting and transporting this waste from designated pickup points falls to concessionaire Rise Eleven, which also operates the recycling plant.
The plant has a processing capacity of 300 tonnes per day and utilises wet processing technology to segregate waste.
It produces items such as interlocking pavers, concrete blocks, precast walls, and tree pots, which are either sold in the market or used in civic infrastructure projects.
"This plant was set up with the future in mind and is equipped to meet the city's needs for the next 15 years," said Dr Arvind Rao, additional municipal commissioner. "However, cooperation from bulk waste generators is crucial to its success."
Under the C&D waste management rules issued by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, large construction sites are required to dispose of their waste at designated facilities and pay a processing fee. Despite this, officials acknowledge that enforcement remains weak. Unauthorised dumping—particularly along roadsides, empty plots, and drains—is still common, especially in rapidly developing areas.
To combat this, the LMC has launched awareness campaigns and held seminars targeting both builders and residents. Still, officials admit that better enforcement and improved collection systems are key to addressing the problem.
Environmentalists echo this concern. Vivek Singh, who runs an NGO focused on urban environmental issues, said, "This facility is a positive step, but it's not enough. In many parts of the city, especially on the outskirts, C&D waste is left unattended for months. It adds significantly to dust and air pollution. LMC must expand its collection network and reduce turnaround time."
According to existing regulations, LMC and other govt departments are required to use 20–25% recycled material in construction projects. However, compliance data was not provided, raising questions about whether these targets are being met consistently.
The site visit underscored that while the infrastructure is in place, there are still significant gaps in collection, monitoring, and policy enforcement. As the city marks World Environment Day, experts stress the need to shift the focus from infrastructure to implementation—ensuring that plans on paper translate into visible results on the ground.