Delhi makes e-waste recycling clause mandatory in all government tenders
All departments and autonomous bodies under the city government have been directed to include an e-waste recycling clause in their tender documents.
As per the new directive, any e-waste generated during the execution of a contract must be handed over exclusively to authorised recycling agencies. Officials believe the move will ensure the environmentally sound disposal of electronic waste.
The directions follow the latest meeting of the steering committee of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which was attended by the Chief Secretary last month.
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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation enforces pollution rules for private sites, ignores own
Ahmedabad: While private builders in Ahmedabad have been mandated to install air quality monitoring sensors at construction sites for over a year, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has failed to enforce the same standard on its own projects. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite clear orders from senior officials over a year ago, engineers overseeing AMC's construction work have not installed these sensors, citing the absence of provisions in existing tenders. AMC's engineering department is currently handling the construction of nine flyovers, underpasses, and railway overbridges — none of which are equipped with air quality sensors. Likewise, new civic infrastructure projects such as ward offices, community halls, sewage and water treatment plants, party plots, water tanks, and pumping stations also lack these sensors. Even newly floated tenders continue to exclude this mandatory requirement, highlighting a gap between AMC's public commitments and its internal practices. Ironically, AMC has been pushing private construction sites to comply with this rule for over a year, especially as part of its initiatives under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The civic body has also been running awareness drives and pilot projects to reduce dust and emissions, including the development of urban forests and oxygen parks, installation of mechanical smart parking systems, automated traffic regulation systems, CNG furnaces in crematoriums, procurement of CNG buses and electric vehicle charging stations with solar power supply for electric buses. Many of these measures were overseen by a consultant agency hired by AMC's air quality management cell, whose term was recently extended by a year. Despite its internal lapses, AMC has been actively pursuing various pollution-control projects and has seen measurable results. This includes a robust monitoring system, utilizing both CAAQMS and manual stations, to identify pollution hotspots. Based on this data and source apportionment studies, mitigation plans are being developed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The city is also actively participating in a central govt initiative by regularly uploading critical information such as SVS, grant expenditure, utilization certificates, and PIP to the PRANA portal. In addition to these technical and administrative efforts, a significant focus is on public engagement and internal training. Workshops are being held to train staff on data uploading procedures, and public awareness programmes are being organized across the city. Furthermore, a new software is under development to streamline the complaint handling process related to air quality. A recent AQI survey by the Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI) showed a 40% improvement in Ahmedabad's air quality, leading the Centre to reward the city with an incentive grant of Rs 120.04 crore for 2022–23. Consequently, the consultant agency's term was extended. AMC collects fees for air sensors, but installations lag Ahmedabad: A year after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) rolled out its policy to install air quality monitoring sensors at large construction sites, the results are mostly invisible, much like the sensors themselves. Though builders dutifully pay the required fees while getting their plans approved, the civic body has failed to ensure timely sensor installation, thanks to a chronic shortage in supply and lethargic performance by the designated agencies. "Under the rules introduced in Aug 2023, construction projects over 10,000 sq m must install air quality sensors, which are meant to alert AMC officials if pollution levels spike. These devices are connected to an online monitoring platform that tracks air quality in real time and is supposed to trigger fines in case of repeated violations. The idea was sound: monitor, warn, penalise. But over the past year, not a single builder has been fined based on the data collected, largely because the infrastructure meant to generate that data never got installed at many sites," said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity. AMC now plans to install air quality monitoring sensors at every construction site, collecting fees from builders when approving construction plans, and the designated agency installs the sensors. So far, 100 sensors have been set up across the city. But behind the scenes, AMC's plan is stuck in a tangle of poor planning and patchy execution. "While three agencies were roped in to handle installation and maintenance, only one has been reliably showing up for work. The others do not work regularly on maintenance. They collect fees during plan approval stage but do not install sensors on time," said the official. This leaves AMC with a backlog of construction sites without proper monitoring. MSID:: 123063875 413 |
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
MTC double-deckers to return in electric avatar under NCAP
Chennai: Once beloved on Chennai's roads, the iconic double-decker buses are set for a nostalgic comeback by the end of this year. This time, they'll return in an all-electric avatar not just for daily commuting, but also to give a fresh boost to city tourism. Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), long known as the city's public transport backbone, is preparing to don a new role as driver of heritage and recreational tourism. With 20 electric double-decker buses sanctioned under the national clean air programme (NCAP), MTC plans to operate these vehicles on heritage routes on weekends, and on high-demand routes on weekdays. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The project, with an investment of 10crore under NCAP, will follow the gross cost contract model, where a private contractor will operate the buses and be paid per kilometre. State govt will retain control over route planning and fare fixation. "We will be calling for tenders soon, and the buses are expected to roll out by year-end," said T Prabhushankar, managing director, MTC. "Apart from their regular use, these buses will run on select tourist circuits on weekends when commuter patronage is low. These tours will be pre-booked." Proposed heritage routes include Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, and other arterial roads, as well as East Coast Road leading to Mahabalipuram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hanoi: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo "We are planning to onboard tourist guides who can narrate the history of landmarks along the way," he added. Chennai follows the lead of cities such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, which have recently reintroduced electric double-decker buses. For Chennaiites, the sight of double-deckers evokes strong nostalgia. First introduced in the 1970s, they were taken off the roads in the 1980s, brought back briefly in 1997, and ran on the 18A route from high court to Tambaram until 2008. Sriharan Balan, chairman of SICCI tourism committee, described it as a 'big bus' concept. "These buses are popular in many cities across the world, often operating as hop-on hop-off services. Here, it's being introduced as a scheduled ride, so the experience will be different. This is a welcome move the city needs more attractions to boost its tourism appeal." Electric double-decker buses are not only environmentally friendly but also highly efficient, with a capacity of nearly 90 passengers about 1.5 times that of a single-decker electric bus. In a city such as Chennai, where buses often run overcrowded, introducing these double-deckers on high-demand corridors can significantly enhance passenger comfort, as they are particularly effective on short-distance, high-ridership routes with limited height restrictions. Mumbai's BEST currently operates 50 AC electric double-deckers, deployed as feeders to suburban train stations, and plans to expand the fleet to 1,000. For Chennai, adopting low-floor electric double-deckers would not only improve accessibility for all passengers, including the elderly and differently-abled, but if well-marketed, they could be a signature of Chennai's public transport system, much like London's red double-deckers, while promoting sustainable urban mobility. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
E-waste recycling clause in government tenders mandatory to improve Delhi's air quality
NEW DELHI: To tackle the rising e-waste menace, the Delhi govt has made recycling of e-waste mandatory in all procurement contracts. The city government has asked all departments and autonomous bodies to include an e-waste recycling clause in tender documents. As per the new directive, any e-waste generated during contract execution must be handed over only to recycling agencies. Officials believe the move will ensure environmentally sound disposal of e-waste. The directions came after the latest meeting of the steering committee of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) that was attended by the Chief Secretary last month. In the meeting, the committee underscored the need for appropriate regulatory interventions to ensure environmentally sound disposal of e-waste. 'In a bid to address air quality concerns in Delhi-NCR, the government reviewed the progress under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) through its Steering Committee. The committee highlighted the urgent need for appropriate regulatory measures to ensure the environmentally sound disposal of e-waste,' stated an order issued by the Finance Department. 'Accordingly, it has been decided that all departments and autonomous bodies under the Delhi government must include a mandatory clause in tender documents stating that any e-waste generated during contract execution must be disposed of through authorised recycling agencies,' it added. According to estimates, Delhi generates 152,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually, much of which ends up in informal recycling sectors or landfills. The toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, along with hazardous chemicals, leach into the soil and groundwater, contaminating natural resources and posing long-term risks to agriculture and water supply.
