Team Herald

PANJIM: Making a pitch for compulsory ‘Green Building’ Concept for government, commercial and hotel projects with built up area of 2000 sq mtrs and above, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday announced that proposed Greenfield International Mopa Airport will have to be ‘green’ building, failing which it will not be approved. Government is considering to set up Urban Art Commission (URC) to set specific architectural criteria’s for various projects.

TCP Board in its 163rd meeting held on Monday evening approved Green Building concept, which will come into force from January 1, 2019. Government has decided to tie up with Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to set up guidelines.

 Speaking to media persons, Sardesai said that green building concept is much bigger incentive than anything else and better incentive than providing additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR).  “Government buildings, commercial projects and hotels with built up area of more than 2000 sq mtrs will compulsory have to go green,” he said.

 He said that like other States where incentives in form of additional FAR, tax rebate is granted for promoting green building, in Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was against this. “In his opinion, if we allow additional FAR, how does the concept green is maintained,” he said.

“Even in case of Mopa Airport…such a big project…what is the use if it is not green project? We will not grant permission,” he stated. The minister said that government is considering setting up UAC, which will make you “create areas such a way that you will not be able to deviate from our heritage culture.”