Kurnool: Scientific management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is essential for creating clean and pollution-free cities, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) Centre Director and retired senior IAS officer Dr B Janardhan Reddy said on Saturday.

Speaking at a one-day leadership training program on C&D waste management jointly organized by the Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) and ASCI, Dr Janardhan Reddy emphasized that effective implementation of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2025 demands seamless coordination among municipal departments, including Town Planning, engineering, sanitation, revenue, accounts, and procurement.

Chaired by Municipal Commissioner Challa Obulesu, the workshop was attended by building and sanitary inspectors, engineers, contractors, builders, licensed technical personnel, and MEPMA self-help group members.

Dr Janardhan Reddy noted that rapid urbanization has triggered a surge in construction activities, causing a proportional rise in C&D waste.

He warned that indiscriminate dumping of concrete, bricks, sand, stones, and iron debris on roads, drains, water bodies, and vacant plots severely pollutes the environment and poses public health risks.

He stressed that C&D waste must be segregated at source and transported to designated facilities for recycling and reuse in construction.

This systematic approach reduces natural resource consumption and drives a circular economy by turning waste into valuable materials.

Calling for collective responsibility, Dr Janardhan Reddy urged citizens, builders, contractors, and municipal officials to strictly adhere to regulatory guidelines, refrain from dumping debris at unauthorized locations, and safeguard urban sanitation for future generations.