Govt lays focus on promoting green buildings across India

The centre is laying emphasis on the construction of green buildings across India and has determined that campaigns should be run to spread awareness of the marginal difference in construction prices for such properties and conventional ones. Addressing a webinar, Surendra Kumar Bagde, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, emphasised that a campaign should be run to create awareness about the marginal cost difference between conventional and green buildings. Badge cited that the idea of green buildings must be promoted in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, too. As per a statement issued by NAREDCO, Bagde said that all the required laws and regulations are in place to help developers build green buildings. Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) organised a webinar 'India's Leadership Role in Advancing Green Buildings'. Although the price of green buildings is marginally higher, it is in greater good to go green, these associations noticed. The statement said that India, which ranks third globally in terms of green buildings after China and Canada, may well turn number one by 2022. Rajeev Talwar, Chairman, NAREDCO, pushed for more and more greenery in cities. He said that on the energy conservation and greener measures by the industry as a whole, that not only rainwater harvesting but water recycling should also be practiced quickly. Talwar said that it is time for mass transport to go towards electricity. Rajan Bandelkar, Vice President-West, NAREDCO, informed that the realtors' body NAREDCO has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IGBC. V Suresh, Chairman, IGBC, expressed confidence that the journey from green buildings to green built-environment will support India shift gears in its journey of becoming a leader in the green building movement. Gurmit Singh Arora, Vice Chairman, IGBC, noted that India has been a global leader in the green buildings movement for the last two decades, with over 7.83 billion square feet of green footprint. Image Source Also read: CII-IGBC ink pact with Indian Institute of Architects for green buildings Also read: 9 smart buildings that say the future is here