BAREILLY: The state government has directed the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) to construct at least one road in each district using municipal solid waste. PWD officials told TOI that though the plan of laying roads using solid waste was put in place last year, only a handful of roads have been constructed using the method so far. So, to ensure proper implementation of the plan, the state government has recently asked the department to carry out the plan in letter and spirit, the officials added.The plan is aimed at utilising solid waste in a gainful manner while increasing road durability at the same time, the officials added. Speaking to TOI, PWD chief engineer of Bareilly division Rakesh Rajwanshi said, “PWD has received the direction to ensure that at least one road in the district be made using municipal solid waste. For this, the department will be identifying a 5-6 km stretch of any prominent road in the district. We will be hiring contractors who will tie up with civic authorities to source municipal solid waste generated for the PWD. The department will pay labour charges to the civic body.”The chief engineer said, “Since Bareilly Municipal Corporation does not have any municipal solid waste treatment plant at present, PWD is trying to rope in an oil and gas company to treat the collected waste so that it could be used for road laying in the district.”Rajwanshi said, “Up to 8% of road construction material will consist of plastic waste, which mostly consist of plastic bottles, disposable glasses, plates, spoons, polythene, wrappers of chocolates and candies, milk packets, etc. The collected waste will first be treated by melting it and then would be mixed with bitumen and other material.”Rakesh Kumar, PWD junior engineer, Bareilly, said, “Apart from waste management, the practice of laying roads by using solid waste will also lead to reduction in cost by up to 20% as there will be a reduction of concrete and bitumen use. Moreover, mixing plastic waste with bitumen improves road quality as it keeps water from seeping into the road. Also, bitumen is a mixture which, when heated, leads to air pollution, and since its use will be reduced by about 8% if municipal waste is used, there will be a reduction in air pollution subsequently.”In Bareilly division, stretches of two roads having a total length of 10 km — 5km in Baheri block and 5 km in Meerganj block — were repaired by PWD at a cost of Rs 3.26 crore and Rs 3.68 crore, respectively, using plastic waste. Around 2,190 kg of plastic waste was used to lay the Meerganj road, which connects Meerganj and Sirauli. The Baheri block road -- connecting Maanpur and Padmi -- was laid using 2,180 kg of plastic waste. The road laying work was completed in June 2017.

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