Contractors should follow strict guidelines for dust pollution

31 December, 2012

Many new entrants have entered the business of construction houses and commercial properties because the stakes are pretty high. This is good so far they do a neat job out of the opportunity given to them. However, the issue arises only when things are not done in a planned or proper manner with planning. On one issue, some contractors are directly responsible for enhancing the pollution levels especially dust pollution to higher levels wherever they operate.

FOR EVERY new construction activity, as part of the site preparation, excavation of the basement has to be done. Mostly, it is done by bulldozers or by manual labour. In the process, the underground mud is dished out (taken out) and kept aside in a piled up manner - at times, it takes the form of a pyramid type structure.

In the proper scheme of things, this excess mud should be transferred to a safer place where it can be better deployed; alternatively, removal of debris mechanism followed by the contractor would also include removal of these excess muds.

Till the time of the removal, everyday the blowing wind carries with it a portion of this dry soft mud and sprays it in and around the neghbouring areas. This is one of the main reasons, why dust pollution is on the increase in many areas. Therefore, concerned authorities must study the existing law governing this aspect and change it for the better ensuring that concered contractors remove the debris on a day basis instead of waiting for the entire project to be over.

Furthermore, a proper site can be allocated and clearly shown to the contractors where they can dump the debris including the fine-particles mud - excavated from the bottom of the ground during laying down the foundation of any building or house.

Based on a recent report, pollution levels in Bangalore has gone up by 100% in the last ten years. According to Pollution Control Board analysis 42 percent of the pollution in the city is caused by transport, 20% by road dust, three percent due to domestic activities, seven percent due to diesel generator sets, 14 percent due to industries and 14 percent due to construction activity.
In some some places, this 14% could be much higher due to construction activities being done in a irresponsible manner where debris including muds dished out remain the open for a long period of time!!l

Concerned authorities can do well to consider the above and issue licences only to those contractors who are serious in doing their job neatly and in a proper planned manner adhering to all the safety norms as laid own by the license issuing authority. Dust pollution should figure in prominently whenever licenses are issued to contractors to enable them to strictly follow guidelines for controlling generation of dust pollution. In other words, contractors should be urged to follow strict guidelines for controlling dust pollution of any nature.