CPWD should promote ‘green buildings’: Dikshit

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Emphasising that development of green buildings was the only answer to the trend of rising power consumption, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday asked Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to bring out manuals suggesting ways to make houses environment friendly.

“As population grows, as people have more money in their hands to spend, naturally they will be spending on items which are costly not only to themselves but costly to the sustainability of our environment,” Dikshit said.

The chief minister, who speaking at a function to mark the 159th CPWD Day, said that while techniques like water harvesting, waste to energy and recycling were needed but the least expensive and perhaps least resisted measure towards sustainability was green buildings.

“I would be grateful if CPWD could bring out manuals to make our houses and buildings ‘green’,” Dikshit said. Dikshit added that simple measures like painting roofs of building could help in saving energy.

Dikshit said she had learnt the CPWD had started building from recycled material and added that while there was resistance to this idea, it must be given greater impetus. Dikshit lauded CPWD’s work during the Commonwealth Games.

Union minister for housing and urban poverty alleviation Girija Vyas said that the UPA government had two goals — economic growth and sustainable development. Vyas also emphasised on the need for transparency.

“I remember when I got this ministry, this department.... My guru joked that this is the same department where percentage works,” Vyas said and added that effective functioning should be coupled with transparency.

CPWD DG V.K. Gupta said that it was important that the organisation worked on its image at a time when there were several options for its clients.

Gupta said that the business development unit needed to assess client behaviour and bring out changes as per their demands.