Regulatory stuff to take care of during Civil work/ Home Renovation

Every home renovation project should stay complaint. Be it minor or major renovation, they should comply with local society and municipal codes and regulations. Failure to do so can lead to fines, or delays. In many cases, even stop the renovation work midway. While these regulations may change from one state to another or from one society to another, we are trying to make you aware of certain common regulation types. Details might change and we would advise you to check with your local society for more clarity or with your interior designer/ civil work contractor.

Below we have listed some of the major things you should take care of –

Informing your society and taking Permission

 In an apartment or society, ensure the following

Get Society Approval (if applicable): obtain consent from your housing society or association before starting, as their bye-laws dictate many external and internal modifications.  Also on use of certain types of equipment which can lead to structural damage.

Manage Waste Properly: Understand the societal rules related to dumping of waste/ malba and ensure the same by clarifying the same to your contractor. This will prevent debris from accumulating and causing a nuisance to neighbors. 

Respect Timings: Follow your society's or local authority's rules on working hours and avoid noisy activities during restricted periods, especially in apartment complexes

Security Deposit: Also they might have rules related to security deposit. Check the same and adhere to it.

Another important thing would be to get an idea from local maintenance team on which structural areas are columns, where are the water and pipelines etc. This would help you to save time and also avoid unnecessary damages.

Check your municipal regulations

Rules vary city by city, so. Some of the key things to take care of could be

Check Local Municipal Regulations: Rules vary by city, so contact your local municipal or development authority to understand specific permit requirements for your project. Best way to do this is to understand this basis your scope of work from your interior designer or civil work contractor.

Obtain Permits: Major renovations, such as structural changes, extensions, or changes to plumbing/electrical systems, typically require permits. Again you can check with your interior designer or Civial work contractor for this.

Adhere to Safety Standards: Follow Indian construction site safety rules, including proper excavation shoring, electrical safety (grounding, insulated tools), and general housekeeping to prevent accidents. Also understand rules related to safety of workers especially related to high rises, any permits required etc. You can include these things in work contract of your contractor as well.

Dumping of malba

In India, dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, or malba, is governed by the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which mandate that waste generators (households, businesses, etc.) segregate their C&D waste and deposit it at authorized processing facilities, not public areas, drains, or landfills. You are responsible for the collection, transportation, and disposal costs, which can be paid to the local municipal corporation. Illegal dumping is a punishable offense and can result in heavy fines. 

Key Rules and Responsibilities:

1. Waste Segregation: You must keep malba separate from general solid waste. 

2. Storage: Store the waste within your premises until it's collected. 

3. Authorized Disposal: Deposit the malba only at designated C&D waste processing facilities. 

4. No Illegal Dumping: Do not dump waste on roads, in public spaces, or near drains, as this causes obstruction and pollution. 

5. Payment of Charges: Pay the applicable collection, transportation, and disposal charges as notified by your local Urban Local Body (ULB). 

6. Penalties: Engaging in illegal dumping can lead to significant fines and other penal actions from authorities. 

How to Handle Your Malba:

#1 Segregate Your Waste

1. Get your construction workers to segregate waste on-site from the start. Allocate appropriate space on the site and lay out properly labeled bins or gunny bags for easy waste collection and disposal.

2. Be cautious of leftover paints and scraped off plaster as they might contain toxic elements such as VOCs or lead. Close the containers tightly to prevent vapours from leaking as they might cause irritation in the eyes, headache, dizziness, or nausea. Never pour any paint or paint waste down the drain. Since our sewage (largely untreated) and water connect to the same source – the river – the toxins in the paint eventually end up in our water streams too.

3. Segregate metals and sell them in the scrap market (your contractor would be a great person to do this). Steel, copper wires, aluminium, are recyclable and have a high resale value. Do the same with doors, windows, and furniture as well.

#2 Know Where The Waste is Disposed

If you are getting a renovation done, you are as per law the waste generator. As the waste generator, it is your duty to ensure that the Malba is disposed of properly. Inquire from your contractor about their waste disposal protocol. We often hear from contractors that – ‘Hum pahaadi pe phenk aayenge’ (we will throw it on the hill) or ‘Jahaan khaali zameen dikhegi wahaan phenk denge’ (we will throw it where we see an empty plot of land). Please know that that’s illegal. Ensure that your Malba is sent to a government-designated collection point or recycling plant. It also serves to educate the labour about best practices.

#3 Work with What you Have

Instead of wiping the slate clean, i.e. demolishing and rebuilding from scratch, explore if you can get creative with the existing elements of your house.  

‍Perhaps the old kitchen granite slab you were planning to renovate could be reused to accent some window sills? Perhaps your old furniture can be spruced up for that retro vibe?

‍Hire an architect or an interior designer and give them a brief that you want to preserve as much as possible – professionals love a good challenge.

Check your pollution Related regulations

In India, home renovation pollution is regulated under broad environmental laws like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, along with specific rules for waste and noise. Key rules include the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which mandate proper waste handling, and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which set daily noise limits and restrictions. You must adhere to dust control measures, proper waste disposal, and noise limits to avoid penalties. 

Specific Regulations for Renovation Work That you must get clarity on before starting the work

• Dust and Air Pollution:

• Developers must incorporate effective dust mitigation measures into project schedules from the beginning, including strategic planning during periods of increased air pollution. Also check with your society on norms related to dust mitigation such as installing dust preventing sheets etc.

• Avoid open burning of waste, as this is a significant contributor to air pollution. 

• Waste Management:

• Segregate and properly dispose of waste generated from renovation, including debris, packaging materials, and old components. 

• Seek to reuse and recycle construction waste whenever possible. 

• Noise Control:

• Keep noise levels within the permissible limits during permitted hours. Also check with your society.

• Limit the use of loud, noisy equipment, especially in residential areas, to prevent exceeding the permitted decibel levels for daytime and nighttime. 

• Seek special permission from local authorities if there is a need to operate beyond permitted hours or if the work is expected to be exceptionally noisy, such as certain specific drill machines etc.  

AS a good citizen it is your duty to adhere to these norms.