The Hindu : New Delhi News : Rashtrapati Bhavan to turn greener

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Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
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Rashtrapati Bhavan to turn greener

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Photo: Shanker CHAKRAVARTY

Greener Pastures: Now more greenery coming up for this peacock dancing after a shower at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

NEW DELHI: The sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan wants to go greener than it is at present. The President’s Estate wants its carbon footprint reduced by cutting down dependence on non-renewable energy sources and limiting the use of non bio-degradables.

Setting an example

Setting an example for others to emulate, the staff and the entire population of 7,700 who stay inside the President’s Estate will do their bit to conserve energy and adopt a policy of “reduce, recycle and reuse.”

“The idea is to involve everyone living in the Rashtrapati Bhavan precincts to contribute towards saving the environment. President Pratibha Patil is very particular that the process of making the estate environment-friendly should be a collective effort,” said an official of the President’s secretariat on Friday.

In collaboration with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Union Ministries of Urban Development, Power, New and Renewable Energy, Environment and Forests, and the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the President’s office is embarking on a new mission to strategise how the Estate can become plastic-free and eco-friendly.

Project ‘Roshini’

“On the President’s initiative, a project ‘Roshini’ is being implemented in the Estate. The project, using the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle, will help in making Rashtrapati Bhavan an eco-friendly, green and plastic-free township. Something than can serve as an example for others to follow,” the official said.

“The various ministries have been taken in on an advisory capacity. Once the plans for reducing the carbon footprint are envisaged, their help will be taken to execute them as well and to ensure that the practices are sustainable,” the official added.

The NDMC officials will meet the block representatives of the Estate on Saturday and make a presentation on how the community can contribute towards making the place eco-friendly. A street play will also be staged on the occasion.

Plans in progress

Energy conservation and rainwater harvesting are already being carried out at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Energy-efficient equipment has been installed in the grand old mansion and the best practices to save power are already in place.

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