MoHUA Advocates for Scientific Methods in Sustainable Housing
MoHUA pushes real estate developers towards green building materials and infrastructure for sustainable housing.
Ministry Official Advocates for Sustainable Housing Development
During a recent conference organized by the industry association Assocham, a senior official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) emphasized the importance of a scientific approach in real estate developments. In her address, D Thara, the ministry’s secretary, urged developers to consider eco-friendly infrastructure components as integral to urban housing projects. This includes essential features such as green spaces, rainwater collection systems, water recycling, and sewage treatment facilities.
Addressing Urban Infrastructure Issues
Thara pointed out the recent flooding incidents in Delhi and Gurugram as evidence of inadequate infrastructure foundations in some high-cost housing projects. She conveyed that robust infrastructure is vital, stating, “Building roads and residences is insufficient; essential resources like water are necessary, which are dependent on green areas.”
To tackle these challenges, Thara suggested that real estate developers establish green spaces in their projects and incorporate systems for water management. She indicated that residents’ associations often lack the capacity to handle complex sewage treatment systems and proposed the creation of specialized companies, potentially employing recent engineering graduates, to manage these systems.
Promoting Green Construction Practices
The official also urged the real estate industry to embrace sustainable building materials. She called on industry groups to collaborate in creating research facilities dedicated to innovating eco-friendly construction products. Thara highlighted the necessity for developers to adopt scientific perspectives in their work, expressing skepticism about relying solely on governmental support for sustainability initiatives.
Utilizing the Delhi Master Plan 2047
Thara encouraged real estate companies to leverage the opportunities provided by the Delhi Master Plan 2047. The plan aims for an ambitious development of approximately 4 million affordable housing units and represents a key strategy in transforming the capital’s infrastructure landscape. The first project under the land pooling policy has received approval, with hopes for more landowner participation to enhance infrastructure developments.
Recently, Union Minister Manohar Lal introduced the Delhi Master Plan 2047, envisioning it as a significant milestone for the region’s future urban planning. Thara assured the real estate sector that MoHUA remains committed to engaging with its concerns and supporting infrastructural advancements.
Photo by Gilgit Baltistan on Unsplash
