Architecture and Building Construction

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December 11, 2019 Dry toilets have long been hailed as a sustainable solution to the sanitation and waste management crisis facing India today, but have been overshadowed by more modern toilet designs.
A traditional dry toilet. Image: India Science Wire
October 11, 2019 Mumbai’s citizens came out in droves to save trees from being felled in Aarey to make way for the metro. Collective action is crucial to save the green lungs of India's rapidly urbanising cities.
Aarey, the green lungs of Mumbai (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
September 30, 2019 The recently concluded 4 day conference in Bangalore looked at the current state of global water resource challenges & future pathways to achieve the SDGs, while ensuring equity in access to all.
Charles Vorosmarty, Chair, COMPASS Initiative, Water Future at the opening plenary on advanced water system assessments to address water security challenges of the 21st century.
August 21, 2019 During the monsoon, temple tanks in Chennai fill to the brim with water, helping in groundwater recharge.
Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane has the biggest tank. Recently, volunteers belonging to the Central Industrial Security Force cleaned the tank. Pic: Laasya Shekhar
August 7, 2019 A million recharge wells for Bangalore
Ramakrishna Bovi is a traditional well-digger in Bengaluru. Image credit: Citizen Matters
July 24, 2019 Policy matters this week
People protesting Dibang Hydropower Project (Source: SANDRP)
Model building bye-laws, developed by the Town & Country Planning Organisation - Ministry of Urban Development (2004)
A guide to help effective implementation for Urban Development. It outlines the dos and don'ts along with the laws and regulations that govern it. Posted on 11 Apr, 2011 03:11 AM

Building bye-laws are a set of standards used to regulate various facets of a building everything from its design to its safety features. In these 'Model Building Bye-Laws', the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) under the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has created a guide for State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, Development Authorities to help them play a more effective role in enforcing the implementation of the master plans.

Techno-economic feasibility study of sanitation and sewage management for Pandharpur town, Maharashtra - Ecosan Services Foundation (2009)
Solving Pandharpur's Sanitation Crisis. A study into the Maharashtra's holy town rings out interventions to combat its growing problem of water and sanitation Posted on 10 Apr, 2011 02:15 AM

This study provides interventions to solving the sanitation crisis in the holy town of Pandharpur, situated on the banks of the Chandrabagha/Bhima river, in the state of Maharashtra, which receives more than 1.5 crore devotees annually. On any given day there are approximately 20,000 pilgrims in this Class B town. This vast floating population creates massive sanitation problems leading to environmental and hygiene issues.  The study forms part of the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board's 'Environmental Improvement Programme at Religious Places in Maharashtra' project.

Advanced training programme on green buildings, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), 20th – 21st April 2011, Royal Orchid Central, Bangalore
Posted on 18 Mar, 2011 02:22 PM

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)Organizer: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre

Venue: Royal Orchid Central, Bangalore

Linear turbine developed in New Zealand - Trials, drawings, videos
Visual documentation of the design and implementation of the Linear turbine Posted on 18 Jan, 2011 11:17 PM

Mark 1 model ready for launch 1984

Mark 1 model ready for launch 1984
Trials in Pai river northern Thailand 1986

Managing Natural Resources -A report by IDSAsr
Managing the scare natural resources better and how space programme plays a role in this, a seminar of country's brilliant minds take the issue head on. Posted on 18 Jan, 2011 04:24 PM

The scarcity value of natural resources has risen due to rising pressure of human population and demands made by modern economics progress. As such managing these resources has become very important.

Olive Crown Awards: For Creative Excellence In Communicating Sustainability
Posted on 18 Jan, 2011 03:18 PM

Forwarded to the portal by: Rohit Rellan

The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) seeks to recognize creative excellence in communicating sustainability.

These are the country’s first ‘green’ awards for communication.

Any communication that highlights the ‘green’ nature of a product, service or corporate philosophy is covered by this award. This would include communication about anything organic, eco-friendly, power-efficient, energy-saving, pollution-controlling, recyclable, reusable and generally something that offers a positioning as not just the custodian of a brand but also a custodian of Brand Earth.

Civil society consultations for the 12th Five Year Plan Approach Paper: Urban & Rural WATSAN sector
At the request of the Planning Commission, Arghyam and WaterAid agreed to co-ordinate and support a process of civil society consultation for inputs on rural and urban domestic water and sanitation for generating recommendations for the Approach Paper to the 12th Five Year Plan of the Government of India. Posted on 30 Dec, 2010 11:20 AM

At the request of the Planning Commission, Arghyam and WaterAid agreed to co-ordinate and support a process of civil society consultation for inputs on rural and urban domestic water and sanitation for generating recommendations for the Approach Paper to the 12th Five Year Plan of the Government of India.

A glimpse of the audience

Himalayi Jan Goshnapatra: Himalayi Niti Ka Prarup – A report in Hindi by the Gandhi Peace Foundation
The Himalayan People's Manifesto has been brought out with the help of various documents prepared by various people and organisations at different times, which demands the government to frame a policy to protect the region. Posted on 18 Dec, 2010 08:19 AM

This document in Hindi prepared by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, is a blueprint of the Himalayan People's Manifesto. The manifesto has been brought out with the help of various documents prepared by various people and organisations at different times. It will be finalised by the next Himalayan Day on September 9, 2011.

Rating system for water efficient fixtures - Survey by Centre for Science and Environment (2010)
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) with this paper discusses standards for water fixtures. The paper also compares labeling and standards of water fixtures in other countries. Posted on 15 Nov, 2010 11:26 PM

Water rating system for water efficient fixtures-Research-Centre for Science and Environment - India (2010)Water use in buildings, accounts for a high percentage of overall water use in cities. With development and growth there has been an increasing demand for water in India. There has been a mismatch between supply and demand because of distribution losses, changing lifestyles etc leading to situations of conflict. Developing water fixtures that use water efficiently is key to reducing this mismatch.

Advanced Training Programme on Green Buildings, CII, Hyderabad
Posted on 15 Nov, 2010 04:19 PM

CII – Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre

Organizer: CII – Sohrabji Godrej Green Business

Venue: Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)

Description:

The Green Building Concept is gaining major importance in India, considering the tremendous benefits that it offers. A Green Building is one that is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work.