Amid rising concerns over dust pollution, state-run construction major Central Public Works Department will shift to a new dust-free construction technology for all its major projects worth Rs 100 crore and above.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has approved the technology shift in the context of rising concerns over dust pollution and recommendation of the Standing Committee on Urban Development.
The minister also took note of the observations of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court over the alarming levels of air and noise pollution in Delhi and other major cities of the country.
"CPWD will henceforth adopt modern monolithic construction technology for all major projects of Rs 100 crore and above each, abandoning traditional methods of construction which are marked by several disadvantages," said a statement from the Urban Development Ministry, under which the CPWD functions. Monolithic construction technology is being followed in all developed countries.
Benefits of monolithic construction technology, which is suited for large housing projects and office complexes, include cost savings due to reduced construction time, much lesser air and noise pollution and construction waste, and durable construction, the statement said.
CPWD executed large scale construction projects worth Rs 2,301 crore in 2015-16, while its total works were to the tune of Rs 4,988 crore in the last fiscal.