New Delhi, March 21 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified efforts to expedite the construction of the Tehkhand construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing plant to address the issue of debris in the city. A deadline of December 2026 has been set for its completion.
Officials stated that the upcoming facility near Okhla will add 1,000 metric tonnes per day to the existing processing capacity, which currently stands at around 5,000 metric tonnes, even though Delhi generates 7,000 metric tonnes of C&D waste, officials said.
Officials further stated that this shortfall has frequently led to the accumulation of debris across the capital, contributing to air pollution.
Officials added that a detailed action plan to improve collection and disposal was recently submitted to the state government, while directives from the central government have led to intensified clearance drives.
"The target was to clear one lakh metric tonnes of debris within 15 days. Approximately 80,000 metric tonnes has already been cleared in 12 days and sent to processing plants," an official said.
Delhi currently has four operational C&D waste plants – Bakkarwala (1,000 MT), Burari (2,000 MT), Ranikhera (1,000 MT) and Shastri Park (1,000 MT) – where debris is processed into reusable material.
The civic body operates close to 120 secondary collection points and plans to designate specific dumping sites in all 250 wards to streamline disposal and curb dust.
Officials stated that departments have been directed to support the ongoing drive, and residents can report debris through the MCD 311 mobile application to ensure timely removal.
The use of recycled products such as slabs and tiles is also being promoted. Currently, private buyers account for about 67 per cent of the demand, while government agencies procure around 14 per cent.
Between April and November last year, 4.5 lakh metric tonnes of processed material was sold in the private market, compared to 80 thousand metric tonnes purchased by government agencies. By the end of 2026, the total production is expected to reach 12 lakh metric tonnes, with most of it likely to be consumed by the private sector.