AP CM Naidu calls for shift from ‘grey’ to ‘green’ growth in construction
Bengaluru, Sept 21 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday called for a shift from conventional “grey growth” to green, circular and regenerative growth in construction, stressing the need to protect nature while pursuing development for future generations.
Naidu was speaking at the inauguration of The Earth Centre at Whitefield here, along with Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Designed by integrating nature, technology and a modern work environment, The Earth Centre focuses on sustainable construction, connectivity with nature and the use of recycled materials.
Naidu said development should move away from concrete jungles towards environment-friendly construction, with buildings designed to use resources intelligently rather than consume them excessively.
“Development must continue while protecting the environment and keeping the needs of future generations in mind,” he said, calling for innovative thinking and responsible action to ensure that development does not come at the cost of nature.
The Chief Minister said the adverse effects of climate change were already being experienced and were no longer a challenge for the future.
Environmental protection should therefore be treated as a collective responsibility, he said.
He advocated adoption of net-zero principles in building construction, greater use of solar power, water conservation, composting of waste and wider adoption of reuse practices.
Such measures would contribute to the objectives of Swachh Bharat, Swachh Karnataka and Swachh Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Naidu said urban development over the decades had largely relied on grey infrastructure, while the future demanded green, circular and regenerative growth.
“Every rooftop can become a power plant, every drop of water can be reused and every waste stream can be converted into a resource,” he said, adding that protecting water and soil was also a means of creating wealth.
Referring to Andhra Pradesh’s initiatives, Naidu said the State Government was promoting Zero Budget Natural Farming and stressed that the same approach should be extended to urban development.
Andhra Pradesh would be a key partner in the national target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030, he said, adding that the State was planning around 165 GW of renewable energy capacity.
He said Amaravati was being developed as an environment-friendly city by integrating nature, technology and modern infrastructure to meet the needs of future generations.
Recalling his role in developing Cyberabad during the undivided Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said he had now been given an opportunity to build another outstanding city in the form of Amaravati.
He congratulated Raghuveer Veeramachaneni, Praveen Kumar, the Vista Spaces team and representatives of Venkataramanan Associates for designing The Earth Centre with a focus on environmental protection and future needs.
TNT KS
