August 13, 2025: Mumbai’s skyline is rising fast, but so is its construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The city produces around 10,000 tonnes of debris daily, a figure expected to double with ongoing redevelopment and infrastructure projects. Until recently, unchecked dumping has choked wetlands, mangroves, and vacant plots. Stalin, director of Vanashakti, noted, “Salt pan lands in Wadala too are being filled by such debris, central government land that has escaped monitoring.”
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) operates two C&D waste-processing plants in Dahisar and Daighar, launched in November 2023, with a combined capacity of 1,200 tonnes a day—just over half of what they could handle is currently used. These plants recycle debris into paver blocks, benches, and other non-structural materials. Since opening, they have processed 150,000 tonnes, but this is dwarfed by the city’s output.
From April 2026, under the central government’s C&D Waste Management Rules, 2025, builders must recycle at least 25% of their waste. Keval Valambhia of CREDAI-MCHI said, “Ideally, there should be one C&D waste-processing centre in every three municipal wards.” Developers cite land costs as a barrier and seek collaboration with BMC, including incentives like property tax rebates.
BMC plans a new 2,000-tonne capacity plant at Deonar and aims to expand existing facilities to meet the mandate. However, officials note the challenge of managing both built-up debris and unprocessable excavated soil. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a major waste generator, may fall outside the rules’ ambit, prompting enforcement concerns.
Environmental expert Rajkumar Sharma warned, “The BMC must create the infrastructure needed to enforce the rules.” Without swift capacity expansion, Mumbai risks being unprepared when the new disposal laws take effect.
Source: Hindustan Times
