The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, may get an ISO: 14001 certification soon as the team of international auditors from Bureau Veritas (BVQI) start audit.
The President’s Estate had applied for ISO: 14001: 2004 mark certification in view of the environmental management initiative — Roshni — which encompasses recycling of water, rain water harvesting, use of natural gas and biogas, making the estate a plastic-free zone and zero waste management.
“The external auditors came to check the waste management systems that we have put in place. The process is through and they seemed satisfied about it,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan official said. ISO: 14001: 2004 mark is a part of a series of international standards applicable to any organisation, anywhere relating to environmental management. Based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, ISO: 14001: 2004 specifies the most important requirements to identify, control and monitor the environmental aspects of any organisation, and also how to manage and improve the whole system.
The President’s Estate is a living heritage located on the Raisina Hills in the heart of capital over an area of 340 acres comprising of offices, residential buildings and green areas, of rich areas, of rich diversity.
It will be the first estate of the world to get such a recognition. The officials want the certification to coincide the third anniversary of President Pratibha Patil’s assuming the office. The final auditing will be done by United Kingdom Accreditation services which will award the certification. The President’s Estate houses over 2,000 households and security personnel who guard the estate. Solar and CFL lamps have been put in place.
The estate is a pollution-free zone as electric cars and carts are run inside the campus.