Sensitise old industries for net zero goals, Sridhar Babu tells IGBC Hyd

Including brownfield industries under green certified projects is a challenge, as greenfield industry’s can be sensitised through IGBC initiaitves, but brownfield industrial areas have been operational from the past 60 to 70 years. How will IGBC convert them into net zero carbon emission buildings, is a challenge for IGBC to take up - D Sridhar Babu, Telangana IT Minister

Hyderabad: Brownfield industries, operational over the past six decades, have to be sensitised about net zero carbon emission, and sustainable practices, if the Hyderabad Chapter of Indian Green Building Council wants to achieve its target of green building footprint in the State, said D Sridhar Babu, IT Minister, Government of Telangana.

Sridhar Babu and N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Irrigation Minister, Government of Telangana launched the second edition of IGBC Green Property Show 2024, in Hyderabad at Hitex Exhibition Centre on Friday. The exhibition is organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) with the support of the Government of Telangana.

Speaking on the ocassion, Sridhar Babu said: “Including brownfield industries under green certified projects is a challenge, as greenfield industry’s can be sensitised through IGBC initiaitves, but brownfield industrial areas have been operational from the past 60 to 70 years. How will IGBC convert them into net zero carbon emission buildings, is a challenge for IGBC to take up.”

Suggesting industries to take up net zero measures, Sridhar Babu said that ‘few years down the lane holding Carbon Credits is likely to be a criteria for seeking bank loans, and hence, industries should now on start working towards improving their carbon credit.’

As the IT Minister, sharing his vision for the sector, Sridhar Babu said: “Currently, we rank second in IT exports, after Bangalore. I give my word to double IT exports from the present Rs 2.50 lakh crore over the next five years. As the IT minister, we will not disrupt the foundation laid by all the previous governments, but we will build on it to grow this sector further.”

Delivering the theme address, C Shekar Reddy, National Vice Chairman, IGBC, called for developing Hyderabad as a global sustainable city that will hold capacity to attract global investments from Non Resident Telugus. To facilitate reverse migration an draw investments from NRT’s, Reddy urged the State government to formulate suitable policies.

In response to Shekar Reddy’s call for developing Hyderabad as a global sustainable city, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Irrigation Minister, Government of Telangana, said: “Our government will work towards making Hyderabad a global city. We will build the infrastructure on global standards. We are business-friendly government and ease of doing business will be the best in Telangana. We will take up measures to promote investment, industries, real estate and the construction industry.”

Citing a report, Shekar Reddy said that Hyderabad is the fourth rapidly growing city in India with an estimated demand for 7.8 crore residential properties. Indicating economic prosperity of youngsters in the city is their preference for gated communities and higher standard of living, Reddy informed.

The three-day exhibition, concluding on May 19, 2024, is a platform showcasing 70 IGBC certified/ pre-certified green residential projects, besides, products and technologies. These 70 developers are offering around 70,000 apartments spread across 17 crore sqft, worth a total value of Rs 1 lakh crore. In the first edition, the event witnessed a footfall of 12,000. For this edition, the organisers are expecting to surpass the previous years walk-in numbers. CII IGBC members including M Anand, Deputy Executive Director; G Srinivas Murthy, Co-chair, Hyderabad Chapter, and others were present. Sessions on sustainable practices, drawing and painting competition, are being held over the three days.