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Centre to change green norms for highrises
The Union Environment Ministry would soon be issuing new guidelines allowing high-rise buildings, even on smaller roads, provided they have the infrastructure to meet any calamity. The Ministry in 2012 had issued guidelines to allow high-rise buildings, more than 15 meters, across India. It had linked height of the building with the width of approach road and its distance from the nearest fire station. The guidelines had also asked the project proponents to seek the approval of the local disaster management authorities in this regard. The stringent norms had resulted in adverse reaction from State governments, which said it would hamper growth of reality sector and would prevent them from building homes for the poor. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan last week raised the issue at the annual plan meeting with Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who assured all possible help. Chavan was of the view that the guidelines impinges on the right of the State governments to develop urban infrastructure. Ahluwalia has, in fact, raised the issue with plan panel member K Kasturirangan, who had been asked by the Environment Ministry to review its guidelines. Ahluwalia is of the view that the guidelines are not realistic especially for older cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, where road width is less.
The Union Environment Ministry would soon be issuing new guidelines allowing high-rise buildings, even on smaller roads, provided they have the infrastructure to meet any calamity. The Ministry in 2012 had issued guidelines to allow high-rise buildings, more than 15 meters, across India. It had linked height of the building with the width of approach road and its distance from the nearest fire station. The guidelines had also asked the project proponents to seek the approval of the local disaster management authorities in this regard. The stringent norms had resulted in adverse reaction from State governments, which said it would hamper growth of reality sector and would prevent them from building homes for the poor. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan last week raised the issue at the annual plan meeting with Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who assured all possible help. Chavan was of the view that the guidelines impinges on the right of the State governments to develop urban infrastructure. Ahluwalia has, in fact, raised the issue with plan panel member K Kasturirangan, who had been asked by the Environment Ministry to review its guidelines. Ahluwalia is of the view that the guidelines are not realistic especially for older cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, where road width is less.