Green Building Boost in Maharashtra, India.
Green technologies are expensive. At a time when India is focusing on providing affordable housing to the masses, adoption of green technologies by developers and builders will add to the construction costs making the housing unaffordable. This is a dilemma which the authorities have to confront with. Simplest way for the authorities to deal with this dilemma is to offer relaxations in property taxes which varies from location to location based on applicable circle rates. In Mumbai it varies from Rs 4.50 to Rs 12.00 per sq ft based on the location.
In case Government formalizes some regulatory framework for adoption of Green Technologies then they must also offer relaxation, subsidies in the taxes. There are many ways through which green measures can be adopted by the builders. Not necessarily all these measures come with price implications. Natural resources are coming under great pressures in Indian Metropolises and northern part of our country. It has been reported that Ground Water Table is shrinking at a rapid pace in northern states like Delhi, Punjab and Harayana. NCR region is facing maximum brunt of depletion of water table.
Today there is no regulatory framework which forces the builders to compulsorily provide for adoption of green technologies. Some of these like rain water harvesting, recycling of waste water, vermiculture of waste water and use of solar energy can be easily adopted and integrated in to construction of high rises and multistoried buildings. To begin with all multistoried buildings and commercial complexes which are being approved through regulatory bodies should be asked to incorporate green technologies in to their plans.
Concerned state departments are meeting in Maharashtra to mull over adoption of green building technologies and their implementation in phased manner. But unless some sort of regulatory framework is established there would be very few takers for green technologies.
May also like to read: How can you make your existing building green?
