Open house: What steps should be taken to check health problems due to construction activities?

Use green tech to check construction dust

Medical experts warn that construction dust can lead to various respiratory diseases, depending on the type and duration of exposure, as well as the individual's susceptibility. Some of the most common respiratory issues associated with construction dust exposure are asthma and COPD. Most important thing is that the government should stop illegal construction and make the people aware through various campaigns. The government and NGOs should come forward and plant a tree in every nook and corner of the city. Secondly, if any road and hotel construction takes place, it should happen only at night so that most people stay inside their homes only. Implementing dust control measures such as covering construction materials, using water sprays to suppress dust and installing dust screens can help reduce pollution caused by construction. Incorporating green construction techniques, such as using recycled materials and energy-efficient designs, can contribute to reducing the overall environmental impact of construction activities.

Rohit Kumar Sehdev

Question for next week

Illegal parking along roads across the city has turned a nightmare for commuters. It often leads to traffic jams in various parts of the city. What should the authorities do to ensure that there are no parking problems and snarl-ups during peak hours?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to [email protected] by Thursday (Mar 7)

Impose heavy fine on defaulters

To protect the environment and safeguard the health of residents, the foremost step required by the government is to make by-laws regarding the removal of construction waste from the sites. In this regard, strict laws should be framed whereby heavy fines are imposed on defaulters. Secondly, MC authorities should issue standing instructions to drivers of companies entrusted with garbage removal to clean all construction waste on a daily basis from areas where work is going on.

Sanjay Chawla

Open spaces turn into mountains of garbage

Effluents coming out of an increasing number of cars, trucks, buses and aircraft are a major source of air pollution. But emissions from construction equipment like bulldozers, generators, cement mixers and other machinery also add to emission of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and other volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. The fine white dust generated by stone/marble/tile-cutters in addition to their screeching frequencies is a common nuisance faced by people in Amritsar, who are not alone in this matter. Not only new construction, similar activities are going on in the walled city in the name of renovation also which contribute to the overall pollution and insanitary conditions besides hindering the work of sanitation staff. Residents living nearby have to remain a silent spectator to the mess of concrete, sand, steel, wastage of water, bricks etc for years, after which the scene shifts to another site, because the whole city has been under this decades-long process. In fact, the business of supplying building material like bricks and sand is also carried out from road space itself, and with impunity. Very few contractors provide the required blue plastic sheet to screen all activity. Besides, there is the trend of 'remodelling' (after demolishing the old), even if it is structurally as strong as new, and more floors appear on the same area only to mar the city skyscape. I wonder if there is any attempt to prevent this aspect of pollution. The Municipal Corporation can intervene to round off corners at busy crossings and compensate the owners, but no such attempt is seen anywhere. Meanwhile, the land mafia is buying old or disputed properties at throwaway prices, demolishing the same, selling the 'malba' or debris and then leaving the site open and waiting for a suitable price after merging more such units. These open spaces breed pests and become mountains of garbage.

Prof Mohan Singh

Construction activity behind poor air quality

Air quality has become an important aspect of our daily lives and has emerged as a growing concern, especially in urban areas with major industries. The construction industry is highly responsible for the deteriorating air quality due to pollution. These construction sites are responsible for nearly 14.5 per cent of PM2.5 and 8 per cent of PM10 emissions which lead to serious health hazards in humans as well as in animals. All construction sites are often covered with dust, machinery emissions and pollutants, which impacts the health of workers and nearby residents. There is a crucial need for monitoring and innovative strategies. Implementing dust control measures such as covering stockpiles besides other measures can help reduce waste at construction sites. Stricter enforcement of existing regulations and guidelines for construction waste management can ensure better compliance.

Saanya Aggrawal

Manage waste for a healthy community

Construction activities often dump off tonnes of waste material, thereby leading to an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among citizens. To tackle this issue, residents and municipal authorities need to adopt small yet impactful steps. One such step is to follow the rule of 3Rs --- reduce, reuse, and recycle waste. Categorising construction waste materials into different types that can be recycled, such as concrete, steel and wood, to help conserve the environment, can be one such step. Salvaging reusable materials before demolition, like doors, windows and fixtures, can result in reuse for some other projects. Innovative ways to repurpose construction waste like crushed concrete, by using them as a base for floors, walkways or roads, could also be another way. Proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials like asbestos is necessary to prevent harm to workers and the environment. Open burning of waste should be avoided to prevent the release of harmful pollutants. Control measures during construction, such as using water sprayers or barriers to reduce dust dispersion and prevent soil run-off and contamination, should be made mandatory by the municipal authorities. Construction activities should be timed appropriately and sound barriers used to minimise noisy activities. Cleanliness campaigns to encourage waste reduction initiatives by adopting eco-friendly construction methods among builders, contractors and residents can also help. Planting more trees can increase the green cover, reduce carbon footprint, and considerably minimise the negative effects. Lastly, all of us should take the responsibility to protect nature from further harm by practising responsible construction and waste management. This will not only protect the environment but also contribute to healthier communities and sustainable development.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Construction waste a health hazard

Construction waste and demolition debris from buildings, roads, bridges or other structures is often dumped along the roads and vacant land spaces. Some items from debris like bricks, steel and wooden material can potentially be reused or recycled, but the waste concrete, outdated electric fittings, clays, broken tiles etc are found lying at several places in cities, rendering an ugly look to environment. Ironically, the mandated construction safeguards and standard procedures for disposal of waste are rarely adhered to. Consequently, bacteria and dust is scattered with the wind, due to which a colossal increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases has been noticed among the workers and residents living in nearby areas. While urgent steps are the need of the hour to prevent climate desecration, stringent action should be initiated against negligence and violation of stipulated norms during the construction and demolition activity. All repair and building construction work should be carried out in a covered framework so that the surrounding areas are least affected from harmful dust or noise pollution, causing severe health hazards. As of now, advanced technology is available for recycling of waste into useful products. Therefore, upon segregation of various reusable items from the debris, remaining waste must be exported to earmarked landfill or incineration sites for appropriate disposal. Apart from levelling the low-lying areas, debris can be used for erecting bundhs and raising the embankments. Indeed, through an efficient management of waste, many health hazards can be avoided besides preserving the beauty of environment.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Unchecked activities a threat to environment

Construction activities are indispensable for development but such unregulated activities can pose a serious threat to the environment. Both sustainable development and environmental requirements cannot be ignored in any progressive society. It is prudently estimated that dust particles that arise from construction activities constitute one of the major reasons for urban pollution, which in turn, pose a serious threat to public health on many counts. No construction proposal should be cleared without documented measures to check, control and minimise the consequential dust and its residue. As a follow-up measure, regular supervision and strict monitoring are required to check violations which need to be penalised. The construction waste is required to be disposed of on a daily basis. The whole construction arena needs to be covered under the umbrella of biodegradable plastic sheets to check the spread of dust particles in the atmosphere. Spray of water needs to be carried out occasionally to control the spread of dust in adjoining areas. Only limited construction activities in a particular area over a certain period of time should be allowed to minimise dust pollution.

Jagdish Chander

Plant trees to maintain ecological balance

Conversion of agricultural land into urban residential areas creates an ecological imbalance because in an agricultural belt, plants, trees and crops release oxygen during the daytime. There are trees like peepal that release oxygen round the clock. With manifold increase in population, the urban areas need expansion leading to multi-storey buildings coming up on hitherto fertile stretches. It is true that tonnes of construction waste are being witnessed at present due to infrastructure development, be it the construction of expressways, railway stations or multi-storied buildings. As it is, the trees and plants help maintain the ecological balance and keep the environment free of pollution. Therefore, there is need for planned plantation of varieties that release oxygen 24x7 and also educate the masses to grow those plants at home. Similarly, the areas that are low-lying can be adjusted with concrete waste and these waste materials can be utilised for the bundhs being constructed to keep the flow of river water intact during the monsoon season when there are floods.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Wear masks to ward off dust ailments

Construction and progress are said to be meant for public welfare. This statement seems quite paradoxical in the current times looking at the number of people who have been adversely affected by the smoke and dust emitted during the construction of buildings. Several people in Punjab, especially in Ludhiana region, are suffering from various lung and cardiovascular diseases due to the dust and smoke that arise during construction work. Even children and teens choke on all the mess caused. This is causing respiratory abnormalities among the people of Punjab. The government needs to start taking the issue seriously before the matter gets out of hand. Certain solutions include shifting all the building work to the outskirts of the city or at least to a sparse and deserted place. Another possible solution is to assign a rule for any contractor or builder to arrange a sprinkle of water around the site at a set interval to sediment the rising dust particles on the ground. One of the key ways is the simplest and most basic: make people aware so that they wear masks on the streets. Countries like Japan and China practice this method and thus live a healthy life. Isn't it high time India also used such methods for safeguarding the health of residents of Punjab? Awareness camps should be held across the state regarding the wearing of masks and its benefits. If these measures are adopted, the cardiovascular and respiratory health of people can certainly get better.

Lakshit Jindal

Construction debris endangers motorists

Huge sand, cement and soil dunes lying in an unsystematic manner often 'adorn' the roads and streets of the state. These heaps of construction material pose a threat to the lives of motorists as they often skid off these encroached roads. Wind storm and rain further aggravate the problem. Squall accompanied by lightning scatters the construction material far and wide turning the bikers blind besides making them lose control over their vehicles. This, in turn, leads to fatal accidents. However, the giant problem of storing the construction material in the middle of a road or street can be tackled by implementing the law that governs it. Poor implementation of the law in regard to this has led to the issue ballooning into a major crisis. Authorities of various departments should work in unison to address the issue.

Prof Rajan Kapoor

Ward-wise zones a must for waste dump

Heaps of construction waste lying around in different parts of the city need immediate attention. These heaps lying on the roadside reduce the width of the roads, causing traffic jams and air pollution. There is an urgent need for developing ward-wise zones in municipal areas where construction waste can be dumped. It can subsequently be taken by the municipal authorities for further use. Unfortunately, awareness among residents about developing such zones is missing. Hence, properly labelled boards should be put up near these construction waste zones so that residents can become aware and also use them, thus helping to control air pollution.

Harvinder Singh Chugh

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