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    For builders in Bengaluru, green nod is something not worth bothering

    Synopsis

    SEIAA member-secretary Ramachandra told ET, “We will issue notices to more than 30 builders in the city for non-compliance with environmental clearance norms.”

    Construction-green-building
    Meanwhile, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) continues to issue notices to builders over bypassing construction norms.
    BENGALURU: The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has registered only 332 commercial and residential projects in Bengaluru as green construction. This is less than 5% of the buildings in the city.

    Meanwhile, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) continues to issue notices to builders over bypassing construction norms. Except for isolated efforts at sustainable building, environment continues to be low priority in the construction business.

    SEIAA member-secretary Ramachandra told ET, “We will issue notices to more than 30 builders in the city for non-compliance with environmental clearance norms.”

    These commercial and residential projects, whose names have not been revealed because notices are yet to be sent, could include upmarket construction projects.

    As of 2018, the SEIAA has around 42 projects that are pending clearance Included in this list is the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)’s mega housing project with 1,068 residential units and a total built-up area of over 1.05 lakh square metres at Kanminike village in Bengaluru South taluk. In 2016, ET had reported that the project had not been cleared because it was coming up in a buffer zone.

    “We are only reviewing proposals that have come to us. We have also instructed the BBMP to not issue occupation certificates (OC) to projects until they obtain the environment clearance (EC),” said Rama-chandra.

    Manvel Alur, CEO, Environmental Synergies in Development (ENSYDE), who has fought against builders violating environmental clearance norms, said that most often, even officials water down norms to sanction clearance. There are no follow-up mechanisms to ensure that projects continue complying.

    “There should be high penalty for violators. People should be educated so that they can question builders on ECs,” she said. “It would also help if the National Green Tribunal is strengthened. Right now, problems are too big for one-two centres to handle. Decentralisation would help resolve more local issues.”

    Prof BV Venkatarama Reddy of the Center for Sustainable Technologies at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), estimates that there are only about 25,000 ecofriendly homes in the city. His centre has trained over 400 engineers and architects and provides consultation to builders.

    Reddy is organising the second edition of the International Symposium on Earthen Structures that will present global best practices in eco-friendly construction next month.

    He said, “Bengaluru has homes and government schools that lead the way for others to practise ecofriendly building. Education and awareness is the first step for sustainable construction.”


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