The Pioneer 05.07.2013
UT proposes five-star rated green building
The UT Urban Planning department has submitted the plan and drawings of
the new UT Secretariat building for approval. The new building is
conceived as city’s first five-star rated green building and a number of
features have been incorporated in design and construction of the new
building to reduce carbon footprint.
As per UT’s plan, the Energy Conservation Building Code norms are being
proposed for energy efficient design and construction of the building.
This state-of-the-art new Secretariat building would have several green
building features like earth air tunnel forced ventilation system,
evaporating cooling system, naturally lit and ventilation for
comfortable ambience, central landscaped and courtyard planning to
encourage the solar passive measures and maximizing ventilation. Other
features include rooftop garden, installation of water harvesting system
and solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plant.
Also, an open station concept has been proposed for UT staff offices in
the new building. The offices of Adviser to UT Administrator, office of
six UT Secretaries, staff of the senior officials, meeting rooms,
auditorium, dispensary among others have been planned in the new
building.
The new UT Secretariat building would be a six-storey building while
the existing Secretariat is a five-storey building. The new building
will be constructed between the existing Additional Deluxe building and
Chandigarh Housing Board building in Sector 9.
With the construction of this new building, various UT departments will
be accommodated under one roof, ensuring smooth functioning of
Administration. The office of Adviser to UT Administrator and UT
Secretaries would be shifted to be proposed new building. And, the
proposed new building is likely accommodate UT departments including
Excise and Taxation. Social Welfare Department, Controller Legal
Metrology, Health Department, State Agricultural Marketing Board, Block
Development and Panchayat Officer, Fisheries Department, among others.
An amount of Rs 50 crore has been proposed by the UT Administration for
the construction of this new building under the 12th five year plan
(2012-17).
When contacted, UT chief architect Sumit Kaur said, “The UT Urban
Planning Department has submitted the drawings of new UT Secretariat
building. And, the same is likely to be approved soon.”She said, “The
new UT Secretariat would be a six-floor building and is conceived as a
five-star rated green building.
Provisions of auditorium, dispensary, canteen among others have been
made in the new building.” At present, due to space constraints in the
exiting UT Secretariat building, staff of several UT Departments are
working from outside the UT Secretariat. Also, the UT is yet to allocate
space for the offices of two new secretary level officers, the posts
which were approved by the Centre last year.
Lalil Sharma, the then Adviser to UT Administrator had laid the
foundation stone of the new UT Secretariat building on September 26,
2007 but the project is yet to kick off. In the year 2007, the first
phase of the building was estimated at around Rs 10 crore while now the
cost has almost doubled. The project was also targeted to be completed
in 18 months.
