Monday 28 September 2015

States agree to comply with environmental guidelines for urban construction projects


NEW DELHI: State governments have broadly agreed to comply with the proposed environmental guidelines for construction projects in urban areas.
This broad consensus on the subject emerged at a consultative workshop on 'Climate Change Mitigation in Urban Sector' organized by the ministry of urban development with all the stakeholders in New Delhi on Monday.
The ministry of environment, forests and climate change made a detailed presentation on 'Environmental Guidelines for Buildings' containing about 30 parameters to be complied with for efficient management of energy, water, land, solid waste, air quality and noise levels during pre-construction, construction and post construction period.
The workshop has been organized to sensitize states and other stakeholders on the need for green construction in view of the fact that the building sector consumes 40% of electricity generated in the country, 30% of raw materials and 20% each of water and land resources besides generating 30% of solid waste and 20% of all effluents.
The stakeholders also came to a broad consensus on many other aspects. They agreed that at least 1% of connected applied load of power shall be met from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic cells or wind mills or hybrid mode. All common area lighting must be of LED/solar lights and energy meters must be installed to measure over all energy consumption; regular energy audit shall be ensured through energy auditors certified by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency; one tree shall be planted for every 100 square metre of land area. When trees are to be cut or transplanted, compensatory plantation of three trees for every tree cut to be ensured; Rain water harvesting plan to be designed providing one recharge bore for every 3,000 square metres of land area. A minimum of 30% of area open to sky (unbuilt) to be left unpaved to facilitate ground water recharge and reduce heat island effect. Area covered with grass will be treated as unpaved area.
States also agreed that Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) would be installed to ensure treatment of 100% solid waste generated and adopting decentralized STPs for larger projects; natural flow of storm water channels can't be altered without the approval of competent authority and entry and exit points of such channels must be retained; organic waste composter/vermiculture pit with a minimum capacity of 0.3 kg/tenement/day to be installed; seperate wet and dry bins to be provided at the ground level facilitating segregation of waste and all non-biodegradable waste would be handed over to authorized recyclers; fertile top soil must be retained to the maximum and for reuse on the site, since it takes about 500 years for formation of one inch of fertile top soil; and possession of buildings to be handed over only after drainage and water connections are in place and No Objection Certification obtained from the competent authority.
Durga Shankar Misra, additional secretary (urban development) urged states to be pro-active in ensuring compliance with green construction norms in view of the commitment of the central government to mitigate emission of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES

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