Chennai roofs to go green soon!

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The rooftops of commercial buildings and residences will go green soon if a proposal by Confederation of Indian Industry, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and state horticulture department is implemented.

Executive director of CII S Raghupathy told Express on the sidelines of the launch of IGBC Green Landscape Rating System that the initial plan is to convert the roofs of about 20 per cent commercial buildings to green.

He said the initiative could be beneficial to the city as well as buildings as it would insulate the building from heat besides the concrete urban spaces could be converted into green spaces.

He said IGBC is planning to spread the initiative across India. “Within the next five years rooftops of buildings and residences will undergo a massive change,” predicted Raghupathy.

He said the state government is keen on the initiative. Interestingly, IGBC is also planning to help state government develop the old and new parks.

Interestingly, as a green landscape rating programme, IGBC is developing Lal Bagh in Bangalore. He said the objective of IGBC green landscape rating system is to facilitate creation of comfortable and environmentally friendly landscape in parks and gardens. “We have suggested for it to be introduced in all parks in the city besides the new parks planned in the state,” he said.

The focus would be primarily on conserving 30 to 50 per cent of water. “The objective of the project would include planting of native species that consume less water and recycling of water,” he added.

The basic aim of the project is to improve the quality of life in the concrete jungle by having some greenry, Raghupathy said.

He said rapid urbanization has placed immense strain on land and other natural resources which is resulting reduction of green spaces.

Raghupathy said green concepts and techniques in landscape can help address national priorities like water efficiency, enhancing biodiversity, waste management, energy efficiency and quality of life. Most importantly, these concepts can create healthier and safer places for people to live, work and play.