DNA : BMC clears eco-housing plan : Sept 22, 2007

bmc clears eco-housing plan
the proposal ensures that buildings which conserve natural resources are
rewarded
linah baliga

corporators demanded to be part of the monitoring committee of the eco
housing programme, which was passed in the standing committee meeting of the
brihanmumbai municipal corporation.

the proposal would ensure that the buildings which conserve natural
resources are rewarded with tax sops. it will also look at ways to save
water, power and measures to improve cleanliness.

the project is in line with pune municipal corporation for eco-housing. the
corporation will set up an eco-housing resource conservation cell comprising
bmc officials and experts from various fields.

after the completion of the project, experts will visit the site and rate
the conserving devices installed. buildings scoring between 500 and 1000
points will qualify for a certificate from the civic authorities. the higher
the points, the more will be the incentive on taxes. the projects will be
reviewed every year to ensure that the scheme is not dumped once the
certificate is procured.

disapproving the presence of ngos in the monitoring committee, bjp leader
bhalchandra shirsat emphasised the need to include corporators in their
place. congress corporator waqarunissa ansari said, "is there no faith left
in corporators that the administration is involving ngos and not us?"
while elected representatives gave a thumbs-up for the eco-housing proposal,
they also suggested inclusion of corporators in the monitoring committee for
this project.

opposition leader rajhans singh, of congress, said the project should be
implemented first in the newly-constructed ward office in goregaon (w). "let
this building set an example," he said. the proposal stated that the
eco-housing technical wing would carry out technical scrutiny and validation
for eco-housing project. the wing will be headed by civil executive engineer
and will comprise assistant engineers from mechanical, electrical,
environment and other departments.

experts from indian institute of architecture, environment department of
institutes like iit powai and two ngos working in the field of environmental
planning and architecture, appointed by the municipal commissioner.


Publication : DNA; Section : mumbai; Pg : 7; Date : 22/9/07
URL :
http://digital.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?edorsup=Sup&queryed=7&querypage=7&boxid=30780750&parentid=48445&eddate=09/22/2007