Maharashtra govt's eco-friendly building norms: What it means
The Maharashtra government is evolving eco-friendly building norms which
will be mandatory for large construction projects in the state.
The Greening of Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government is evolving eco-friendly building norms which will be mandatory for large construction projects in the state. A bird's eye view of what this means:
What they are: 'Green buildings' are those built using material and processes that are environment-friendly and resource-efficient. They exploit renewable resources as far as possible - for example, using sunlight for their energy needs through solar panels and similar devices, spreading greenery via plants, green roofs and rain gardens and reducing rainwater run-off.
Global precedents: A growing number of countries including the US, Japan and most European ones have adopted similar green policies. Many make it mandatory for buildings, especially newly constructed ones, to abide by the terms set down by their green building councils. Some others offer incentives to commercial builders to go green, including tax benefits and quick clearances.
In India: Green building laws and codes in India exist, but implementing them is still voluntary. There are, however, several accredited certification systems that can help to design high-performance green commercial buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is widely followed in this country. Other states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are also exploring ways to incentivise green building practices.
Not on Track
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority hopes to complete the already delayed Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail corridor by the end of next year but it is yet to get the space needed to set up the supporting infrastructure. The plots identified by MMRDA belong to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The monorail construction began nearly four years ago and was originally expected to be complete in 2011.
Big Fish
A Chinese fisherman has landed the world's most expensive single catch - an endangered fish worth three million yuan (300,000). This is a huge 176 pound Chinese Bahaba, or Giant Yellow Croaker, caught off the coast in Fujian province. The fisherman claims he found it floating in the waters and simply picked it up. A bidding war for the delicacy followed.
Paternal Pride
DNA tests to confirm paternity are becoming more and more popular in Hyderabad. There are plenty of private labs around ready to conduct them, and a host of suspicious fathers are now literally buying peace of mind by getting even a nail or a hair of their putative newborn tested. The price is a mere Rs 10,000 per test, but experts warn it should only be conducted by seasoned professionals to get accurate results.
Compiled by Basudha Das
The Maharashtra government is evolving eco-friendly building norms which will be mandatory for large construction projects in the state. A bird's eye view of what this means:
What they are: 'Green buildings' are those built using material and processes that are environment-friendly and resource-efficient. They exploit renewable resources as far as possible - for example, using sunlight for their energy needs through solar panels and similar devices, spreading greenery via plants, green roofs and rain gardens and reducing rainwater run-off.
Global precedents: A growing number of countries including the US, Japan and most European ones have adopted similar green policies. Many make it mandatory for buildings, especially newly constructed ones, to abide by the terms set down by their green building councils. Some others offer incentives to commercial builders to go green, including tax benefits and quick clearances.
In India: Green building laws and codes in India exist, but implementing them is still voluntary. There are, however, several accredited certification systems that can help to design high-performance green commercial buildings. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is widely followed in this country. Other states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are also exploring ways to incentivise green building practices.
Not on Track
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority hopes to complete the already delayed Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail corridor by the end of next year but it is yet to get the space needed to set up the supporting infrastructure. The plots identified by MMRDA belong to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The monorail construction began nearly four years ago and was originally expected to be complete in 2011.
Big Fish
A Chinese fisherman has landed the world's most expensive single catch - an endangered fish worth three million yuan (300,000). This is a huge 176 pound Chinese Bahaba, or Giant Yellow Croaker, caught off the coast in Fujian province. The fisherman claims he found it floating in the waters and simply picked it up. A bidding war for the delicacy followed.
Paternal Pride
DNA tests to confirm paternity are becoming more and more popular in Hyderabad. There are plenty of private labs around ready to conduct them, and a host of suspicious fathers are now literally buying peace of mind by getting even a nail or a hair of their putative newborn tested. The price is a mere Rs 10,000 per test, but experts warn it should only be conducted by seasoned professionals to get accurate results.
Compiled by Basudha Das
