The Times of India  08.09.2010

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) took a step further towards energy and environment conservation with its plans to give green rating' to new buildings.

Municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said, "We have decided to adopt the guidelines laid won by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, for rating green buildings. A meeting will be held with developers and builders to know their views on the proposal."

The buildings will be given ratings on the scale of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, depending upon the number of eco-friendly measures taken. Sharma said, "The developers will get concessions in premium charges paid to the PCMC while residents of green buildings will be given rebate in property tax. We may offer some more sops to encourage builders take up such projects."

Enlisting some basic requirements of green buildings, Pathan Ayubkhan, executive engineer with the environmental cell of the PCMC, said, "The buildings should be made of natural and eco-friendly resources; adequate use of natural light and ventilation is must to reduce consumption of electricity; flyash bricks be used for construction; no waste be released into the environment."

On the importance of recycled water, he said, "An individual needs not more than 45 litres of fresh water for bathing, cooking and drinking purposes collectively. If recycled water is used for other purposes, usage of fresh water and expenditure on purification process can be slashed significantly."

The Pimpri-Chinchwad township, predominantly an industrial hub, got a municipal corporation in 1982. The population of the twin township was around one lakh then, which has now gone up to 15 lakh.

"The township has seen tremendous development in the past three decades with areas like Moshi, Wakad, Pimple Gurav, Pimple Nilakh and Pimple Saudagar developing into urban centres. Construction of green buildings will help reduce impact of rapid urbanisation on environment," said Pathan.