Multi-storied green infrastructure projects in the city could soon get a 20% concession on city-level impact fee. Announcing this on Wednesday, M T Krishna Babu, commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), said the matter was in proposal stage and would be implemented over the next few months.
The fee is collected for ground plus five and above constructions as there is an impact on the city's infrastructure.
The commissioner was speaking at a conference on use of green energy in urban infrastructure, organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fapcci). The concession is being introduced to encourage the industry to adopt 'green' resources. In a recent directive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had indicated that at least 10% of all infra projects in a state should have renewable energy. In AP the percentage at present is a meager 1.78.
"In the first phase we will be offering the concession to offices and commercial establishments," the commissioner said, noting that efforts were on to offer such buildings a cut in electricity bills also.
He said that the state government was in talks with APCPDCL on the matter. Currently, projects in Hyderabad using solar energy, as per GO 86, are given a 10% relief on property tax. An additional 10% concession is extended in case the building has a rain water harvesting system installed.
A proposal to conserve energy used by streetlights in the city is also in the pipeline, the commissioner said. Once initiated, the project will help cut energy consumption by at least 25%.
"Due to legal issues we have not been able to implement the pilot project yet. We are hoping that the matter will be resolved soon," Krishna Babu said stressing on the other projects, such as the 22-km cycling track in Hi-Tec City, that the government had recently undertaken to save energy.
The GHMC chief said that the department, in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board would soon start a rigorous pollution awareness campaign as the pollution level at several city junctions is currently an alarming 200-250% higher than permissible limits.
Fapcci official Manoj Kumar Agarwal proposed that the government, in addition to the announced sops, should consider offering a rebate on building permit fee to green projects. "This will benefit buildings that are not multi-storied (more than five floors) also," he said.
