Karnataka govt asks Nirmithi Kendras to opt for green construction

18 Aug 2021 CW Team

The district administration resistance, shortage of human resources, issue of fiscal allocation, and the Covid-19 pandemic came in the way of the green construction scheme.

The revenue department suggested Nirmithi Kendras set up their manufacturing centres to produce green material and begin the in-house training to make those, besides carrying out projects without tenders.

According to the law, infrastructure development societies can take up projects worth Rs 2 crore without informing higher authorities. Local administrators and legislators use it to award piece-works ranging between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh through the society without involving it.

R Ramachandra, the Bidar district deputy commissioner, said that in his jurisdiction, Nirmithi Kendra was closed for nearly two years after it faced income tax claims.

Nitesh Patil, the Dharwad deputy commissioner, said that the administration had identified 57 acres of land parcel to set up a manufacturing unit for producing green construction materials.

K G Jagadeesh, the Udupi deputy commissioner, said that their district was following the old system of identifying good material suppliers and carrying out the projects from tenders.

Kolar is among some of the districts to adopt the scheme. Its deputy commissioner, R Selvamani, said that the district has set up a manufacturing unit, which is being used for housing projects for building anganwadis and nada kacheris under multiple schemes.

The commission had instructed their Nirmithi Kendra to identify construction and demolition wastes and reprocess the same to manufacture paver blocks, which will be used as footpaths to widen the roads in the city, he said.

Image Source

Also read: Chennai gets several project announcements in Tamil Nadu budget

In 2020, the Bengaluru government ordered all the Nirmithi Kendras or infrastructure development societies in Karnataka districts to shift towards low-cost, environmentally-friendly materials for green constructions. The district administration resistance, shortage of human resources, issue of fiscal allocation, and the Covid-19 pandemic came in the way of the green construction scheme. The revenue department suggested Nirmithi Kendras set up their manufacturing centres to produce green material and begin the in-house training to make those, besides carrying out projects without tenders. According to the law, infrastructure development societies can take up projects worth Rs 2 crore without informing higher authorities. Local administrators and legislators use it to award piece-works ranging between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh through the society without involving it. R Ramachandra, the Bidar district deputy commissioner, said that in his jurisdiction, Nirmithi Kendra was closed for nearly two years after it faced income tax claims. Nitesh Patil, the Dharwad deputy commissioner, said that the administration had identified 57 acres of land parcel to set up a manufacturing unit for producing green construction materials. K G Jagadeesh, the Udupi deputy commissioner, said that their district was following the old system of identifying good material suppliers and carrying out the projects from tenders. Kolar is among some of the districts to adopt the scheme. Its deputy commissioner, R Selvamani, said that the district has set up a manufacturing unit, which is being used for housing projects for building anganwadis and nada kacheris under multiple schemes. The commission had instructed their Nirmithi Kendra to identify construction and demolition wastes and reprocess the same to manufacture paver blocks, which will be used as footpaths to widen the roads in the city, he said. Image Source Also read: Chennai gets several project announcements in Tamil Nadu budget