Building Construction Environment Management Regulations, 2022
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Context: The draft notification of the Building Construction Environment Management Regulations, 2022, issued on by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, has invited suggestions and objections.
Building Construction Environment Management Regulations, 2022
- The new rules will be applicable for buildings having a built-up area of or greater than 5000 square metres, and this covers expansion, renovation or repair of existing buildings
- At least one tree for every 80 square meter of land needs to be planted within construction sites for both residential and commercial buildings, ensuring 10 per cent green cover for every plot.
- Buildings, roads, paved areas, and external services, topsoil should be stripped only up to a maximum depth of 20 cm.
- The soil should be stockpiled in designated areas and reapplied during the plantation of the proposed vegetation on the sites.
- If a common sewage plant is not available, on-site plants with 100 per cent waste water treatment capacities will need to be installed.
- Rainwater harvesting or ground water recharge systems will also be mandatory.
- No construction will be allowed on wetland and waterbodies, and no groundwater should be used for building construction without the Central Ground Water Authority’s approval.
- Projects will need to put in place dual plumbing systems—one for supplying fresh water for drinking, cooking and bathing, and another for supplying treated water for toilets, landscapes, fire-fighting etc.
- Projects above 20,000 square meters will require on-site solid waste management facilities with arrangements with authorized recyclers or municipal agencies for disposing non-biodegradable waste.
- Standardized, outcome-based and quantifiable environmental regulations”, are necessary for effective environment protection and management and “to bring in transparency in approach and encourage ease of doing business.
- Monitoring mechanisms need to be expanded through third-party audits, “encouraging green certifications and leveraging on the presence of regulatory agencies at different levels of governance”.
- Compliance with the new rules, “do not substitute” approvals required to be obtained under other laws.