Silent killer of forests
Vipin Kumar
Mussoorie, March 18
Has anyone wondered what happens to the debris generated in the course of construction and demolition activities. As a normal practice such waste is dumped on the slopes in the hilly region while in the plains it is used for back filling and soling of pavements. Still the residue is dumped in the vacant lots or nearby forests.
Interestingly the Development Authorities has no such rule or law to ask the builder regarding the debris that will be generated in the course of construction. The dumped debris chokes the water ways, drains on one hand and kills the regenerating saplings which are a natural outcome in forests.
The Government of India promulgated the Construction and Demolition Rules 2016 which directs the Municipal Bodies to identify spaces for collection and dumping of such waste. The provision of a malba fees has been made for waste generators. Till date no such provision has been made by the Urban local bodies (ULB’s) in the State of Uttarakhand. The outcome is that the violators have a free hand to dump this heavy load waste along the slopes of road sides choking the entire eco-system.
The forest department merely puts signages prohibiting the dumping of malba in the forest area. In Mussoorie the Tehri bye pass, Hathipaon and the Rain water drains are the favourite places for dumping.of scree. The entire area is choked. The MDDA is least bothered and so is the Municipality. Interestingly, the Municipality charges an eco -fees at the entrance of the town. No one knows where all the collected revenue is spent.
It is high time that both the departments fix accountability of the builders whether small or big to relieve the forests of this silent killer.
(Vipin Kumar is an eminent environmentalist)
