Late President Dr A P J Abdul Kalaam in his speech at the Green Building Congress in New Delhi on September 15, 2005 had observed: “…Presently, we are generating one trillion unit power for a billion population with certain economic strengths. And we are using 800 billion cubic metre (BCM) water. Our aim should be to conserve at least 10% of energy. A good part of the nation’s energy is consumed by the construction industry. ”
Somewhat similar sentiment was echoed when India ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015—a major commitment towards global cause of environment protection. India has submitted its action plan, committing to reduce growth of carbon emission by 33-35% by 2030 (from the levels in 2005). India has also pledged to increase its clean energy share by 40% by 2022. But the construction industry consumes enormous resources—40% of global energy, 40-45% of steel, 65-70% of glass and 85% of paint, which leads to carbon emissions.
Despite realisation of the impacts of construction, the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in the name of “ease of doing business”, has allowed the constructions on up to an area of 1,50,000 sq metre to be done without environmental clearance. In fact, the Central Pollution Control Board has given an advisory that no consent is required from them for area development projects. The only requirement now is that the urban local bodies will consider the environmental aspects while sanctioning building plans.
The energy intensive building and constructions would leave an adverse impact on our children. “Ease of doing business” certainly cannot be at the cost of environment degradation.
This move of the MoEF&CC has now been challenged before the National Green Tribunal and it will be interesting to see the outcome whether such a huge energy and resources guzzling sector would be kept outside or included within the purview of the prior environmental assessment framework.