Going “green” has been one of the most noticeable trends in the construction industry since the past few years. With the advent of the 21st century, construction companies, whether small or big, have become more cautious about adopting green practices to build eco-friendly buildings. Surprisingly however, there has not been any conscious effort to implement eco-friendly infrastructure, which has immense scope and relevance in the present scenario.
According to economists and social scientists, infrastructure development is imperative to ensure India’s overall economic growth. “Considering India’s geographic vastness, infrastructure development will play a critical role in cementing its position as the next economic superpower,” opines Prof Shubham Singh, Head of Department-Construction Engineering, Hitkarni College of Engineering Technology, Jabalpur.
Prof Singh goes on to add that the adoption of eco-friendly practices will not only safeguard our existing resources but also make them more sustainable.
Existing norms
While assessing the future impact of implementing eco-friendly infrastructural facilities, it becomes necessary to understand the existing practices. At present, all infrastructure projects in India are required to furnish an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to seek approval from the Government of India (GoI). Likewise, the developmental projects have to acquire the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ (MoEF) consent to commence work.
Over the years, the EIA norms have been modified to help expedite the approval process. However, authorities have failed to address the environmental concerns linked with infrastructure development. Therefore, no notable steps have been undertaken to facilitate environmental sustenance.
“The Central government has been quick in dealing with the hassles faced by most infrastructure companies while seeking approval for their projects. However, the environmental factors have been largely ignored while modifying the existing norms,” says Anshul Kumar Saxena, Managing Partner of Sri Jai Vishnu Infra Consultants, a Mumbai-based infrastructure consultancy.
Infra cos go green
Although the scenario is still bleak in the Indian context, a large number of infrastructure companies have responded to issues pertaining to environment degradation by adopting energy-efficient technologies. Many infrastructure projects are being completed using environment-friendly raw materials such as cement and a growing number of infrastructure companies are consulting environmentalists.
Nuclear power triggers speculation
However, with nuclear power gaining momentum in India, environmentalists have voiced their concerns regarding the future of the Indian infrastructure sector. According to a section of environmentalists, nuclear energy will have adverse impact on our environment and large-scale adoption of this form of energy will spell doom. These fears are quelled by environment scientists who foresee nuclear energy as the most suitable form of energy in the future.
Prof Singh points out, “Nuclear power plants do not have a negative influence on our environment as they do not cause pollution. Moreover, speculations surrounding nuclear waste are also not based on any concrete fact or evidence.”
Growing awareness has made authorities and companies more conscious about the importance of protecting the environment and sustaining resources for future. Furthermore, industry players are finding the implementation of green practices to be a more commercially viable option as they are now able to curb escalating costs of construction. At this juncture, government support and dissemination of information are required to make Indian infrastructure sustainable.
Shubhomita Bose
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