CII for public-pvt partnership to herald 'green movement'

After establishing the Green Business Centre (GBC) in Hyderabad, the first green building outside the United States, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) now wants both the government and industry to come together to herald a 'green movement' in the country.

The GBC, which has received a 'Platinum' rating from the United States Green Building Council through its LEED programme is the third building in the world to receive such a rating, is the outcome of a public-private partnership involving the government of Andhra Pradesh, the House of Godrej and CII with the technical support of USAID.

CII's efforts at being environment friendly are already bearing fruit. ITC Bhadrachalam, Vasavadatta Cements, Madras Cements, Shree cements, Vam Organics and the Lanco Power Limited have agreed to transform themselves as Green companies by 2005.

Jamshyd N Godrej, the co-founder of the GBC centre, said here on Tuesday that they want to take the 'green' concept to every state government and introduce minimum ratings to new building on the lines of a LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) rating.

The GBC centre will be inaugurated by the President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, tomorrow. It has been built on the lines of a 'conservation' concept at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The GBC is expected to become the centre of excellence for energy, environment, water, green buildings, renewable and climate change activities in India.

The centre, which is managed by the CII would extend consultancy services apart from doing research and development in specified areas.

Jamshyd N Godrej who came here to participate in the inauguration of the 'CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre' scheduled tomorrow, said that the CII wanted to ring in transformation using the Green concept in the paper, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries which have been branded as 'dirty'.

He said that by spending an additional 15 per cent on Green Buildings would save a lot in energy and water consumption besides availing of other advantages through conservation methods. He said that GBC would jointly work with the Singapore Green Building Council to advance the movement in Singapore.