Delhi environment summit calls for green smart cities
Updated: Oct 31, 2014 03:58:08pm
New Delhi, Oct 31 (KNN) The first Delhi Environment Summit laid considerable emphasis on building green smart cities that adopt green practices and green building design with systems for water management, waste management and improving air quality in place.
The summit was jointly organized by the Government of NCT of Delhi, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and UNESCO on October-30.
In keeping with the theme, the event took place at LEED Certified Platinum Hotel Building, going as paperless as possible, without the use of plastic water bottles; the venue allowing the use of natural light and least possible usage of electricity.
Some of the key speakers at the summit were Co-Chairwoman, IGBC Delhi Chapter and Partner-Design and Development Sheetal Rakheja, Chief Engineer, Leela Palace Hotel Praveen Sharma, Director, WBCSD India Joe Phelan, Senior Director, PepsiCo India, Rajiv Wakhle, Director, Chintan Bharati Chaturvedi and Vice President, National Solid Waste Association of India, Rahul Chhabra.
Addressing the session, Member of Parliament from New Delhi Constituency Meenakshi Lekhi urged Delhites to adopt practices like creating resource from waste, installing local sewage treatment plants in each colony, recycle and use defecated materials by degrading them.
She stressed the need to convert landfill sites in the city into gas-fill sites and using micro simulators while buildings are constructed. She also expressed the hope of seeing more smart cities across India in the next five years.
On the other hand, Secretary (Environment and Forests), NCT of Delhi, Sanjiv Kumar emphasised the initiatives being taken by the government to provide the industry with incentives and rewards for adopting green practices. He said the Delhi Solar Policy which is about to implemented soon will allow citizens to contribute to the grid and gain from it.
Delivering welcome remarks at the summit, Chairman, CII Delhi State Council and Group Founder and Chairman, The Walsons Group, Arun Wallia urged the citizens of Delhi to take up steps that improve the quality of air and standards of living in the city.
He said that CII endorses the view that while smart cities are being built across the county, the focus should be on making them green.
Chairman, India Green Business Council and Chairman, AECOM India Prem C Jain urged government and development agencies to incentivize industry houses adopting greener practices by giving them faster clearances, rebate on property tax and FAR.
Convener, CII Delhi Panel on Environment and Sustainability, Niranjan Khatri suggested that the corporate sector adopt different measures that promote sustainability. He also said the focus should be on creating greener jobs for the youth of the country.
Senior Programme Specialist - Natural Sciences, UNESCO Mitrasen Bhikajee said that dynamic economic and migration patterns are exerting great pressure on the environment in and around the city and these patterns should be identified and immediately addressed.
On the session on Green Building Concepts speakers agreed that a major reduction in energy consumption has been observed by creating the concept of green building.
In ‘Effective and Innovative Ways of Water Management’, the panellist encouraged all focusing on various successful models of water management in Delhi to ensure continues water supply, also touching upon various processes of measuring ground water.
The summit also featured effective ways of waste management for Delhi, calling for need to build awareness among the community and involving them in solid waste management. (KNN/ST)
The summit was jointly organized by the Government of NCT of Delhi, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and UNESCO on October-30.
In keeping with the theme, the event took place at LEED Certified Platinum Hotel Building, going as paperless as possible, without the use of plastic water bottles; the venue allowing the use of natural light and least possible usage of electricity.
Some of the key speakers at the summit were Co-Chairwoman, IGBC Delhi Chapter and Partner-Design and Development Sheetal Rakheja, Chief Engineer, Leela Palace Hotel Praveen Sharma, Director, WBCSD India Joe Phelan, Senior Director, PepsiCo India, Rajiv Wakhle, Director, Chintan Bharati Chaturvedi and Vice President, National Solid Waste Association of India, Rahul Chhabra.
Addressing the session, Member of Parliament from New Delhi Constituency Meenakshi Lekhi urged Delhites to adopt practices like creating resource from waste, installing local sewage treatment plants in each colony, recycle and use defecated materials by degrading them.
She stressed the need to convert landfill sites in the city into gas-fill sites and using micro simulators while buildings are constructed. She also expressed the hope of seeing more smart cities across India in the next five years.
On the other hand, Secretary (Environment and Forests), NCT of Delhi, Sanjiv Kumar emphasised the initiatives being taken by the government to provide the industry with incentives and rewards for adopting green practices. He said the Delhi Solar Policy which is about to implemented soon will allow citizens to contribute to the grid and gain from it.
Delivering welcome remarks at the summit, Chairman, CII Delhi State Council and Group Founder and Chairman, The Walsons Group, Arun Wallia urged the citizens of Delhi to take up steps that improve the quality of air and standards of living in the city.
He said that CII endorses the view that while smart cities are being built across the county, the focus should be on making them green.
Chairman, India Green Business Council and Chairman, AECOM India Prem C Jain urged government and development agencies to incentivize industry houses adopting greener practices by giving them faster clearances, rebate on property tax and FAR.
Convener, CII Delhi Panel on Environment and Sustainability, Niranjan Khatri suggested that the corporate sector adopt different measures that promote sustainability. He also said the focus should be on creating greener jobs for the youth of the country.
Senior Programme Specialist - Natural Sciences, UNESCO Mitrasen Bhikajee said that dynamic economic and migration patterns are exerting great pressure on the environment in and around the city and these patterns should be identified and immediately addressed.
On the session on Green Building Concepts speakers agreed that a major reduction in energy consumption has been observed by creating the concept of green building.
In ‘Effective and Innovative Ways of Water Management’, the panellist encouraged all focusing on various successful models of water management in Delhi to ensure continues water supply, also touching upon various processes of measuring ground water.
The summit also featured effective ways of waste management for Delhi, calling for need to build awareness among the community and involving them in solid waste management. (KNN/ST)
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