NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is looking for a private firm to deal with construction waste that the city produces in abundance on account of various ongoing housing and commercial projects. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had in November last year come down heavily on GDA and Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) for failing to address the problem of construction debris which it held as one of the main reasons for pollution in the city.“The GDA has no expertise to develop construction and debris recycling plant so we have sought the help of expert agency to install one,” VN Singh, chief engineer, GDA, told TOI on Monday. “As per talks we had with some private companies, we will be needing five acres of land for the plant and currently we are scouting for land and the estimated cost of building the same will be Rs 15 crore,” he added.“We intend to invite the private firm to develop the plant on BOT basis for a period of 15 years and GDA and the firm will share the profit which will be decided later,” said Singh. “The firm will be allowed to collect construction waste from across the city, which it will recycle to make interlocking tiles, mortar chips and also for filing up trenches and potholes. The company will be allowed to sell off recycled products and the profit earned will be shared with GDA,” he added.The municipal commissioner has expressed the civic body’s support to GDA.“A construction and debris recycling plant will go a long way in addressing the problem and we are providing all assistance to GDA in setting up of the plant,” CP Singh, municipal commissioner, said.Meanwhile, the regional office of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on Monday hosted a special session for top officials of Noida Authority to sensitize them on dust mitigation processes in the city.Conducted by the regional officer of the pollution control board, some of the topics in which the Noida officers were informed about were the rules pertaining to handling of construction material, carrying them from one place to another or storing them on site. “UPPCB is not working against development but development activity has to adhere to all construction orders,” said an official.

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