Page 15 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 15
Sustainable site planning 7
Ecologically, India is a mega-diverse country. It is one among 17 of its kinds in the world. Our
biodiversity has evolved over thousands of years. Poor planning decisions lead to irreparable losses.
Our traditional knowledge and scientific and medicinal systems such as Ayurveda and Unani were
all based on resources derived from our rich biodiversity. Biodiversity also acts as a natural control
mechanism for diseases and epidemics by maintaining the natural food chains for all living beings
in the ecology.
We are also an agrarian society, with primary earnings of most of our population coming
from agriculture or related activities. Poor planning and encroachment on agricultural land lead
to increased expenditure towards import of food grain in order to improve food security, as also
increased stress on natural resources.
Figure 3 Expansion in Mumbai shows how real-estate Figure 4 Buildings are constructed over land that was
development is leading to increased destruction of the part of the city’s forest area. The green cover is destroyed
city’s green cover and natural resources. overnight in the name of real estate development.
Source Google Earth Source Google Earth
In terms of planning, additional expenditure is required towards expanding city municipal limits
and integration of fringe areas with the city infrastructure. This also leads to increased stress on
resources such as materials and water that need to be supplied to these areas. Increased expenditure
towards infrastructural growth and development is also required in order to add more transportation
services. Adding more civic amenities such as hospitals, schools, and universities, further increases
the stress on resources.
Building occupants incur higher expenditure towards constantly increasing the supply for water
and power at the site level. There is an increasing need for water and power back-up to cater to
localized demand, but little is understood about where these come from or at what cost. This also
results in adding more energy-intensive technologies to ensure energy efficiency, which also has a
higher embodied energy value and, thus, increased stress on resources.
Solutions
The solutions need to take into account site planning decisions at all levels, such as the following.
Natural
Sites for new developments should be carefully assessed in the context of the wider environment,
particularly in relation to the habitats dwelling on-site or in adjacent sites. This will ensure biodiversity
protection in the long run, along with preservation and protection of
# Carbon sinks
Ecologically, India is a mega-diverse country. It is one among 17 of its kinds in the world. Our
biodiversity has evolved over thousands of years. Poor planning decisions lead to irreparable losses.
Our traditional knowledge and scientific and medicinal systems such as Ayurveda and Unani were
all based on resources derived from our rich biodiversity. Biodiversity also acts as a natural control
mechanism for diseases and epidemics by maintaining the natural food chains for all living beings
in the ecology.
We are also an agrarian society, with primary earnings of most of our population coming
from agriculture or related activities. Poor planning and encroachment on agricultural land lead
to increased expenditure towards import of food grain in order to improve food security, as also
increased stress on natural resources.
Figure 3 Expansion in Mumbai shows how real-estate Figure 4 Buildings are constructed over land that was
development is leading to increased destruction of the part of the city’s forest area. The green cover is destroyed
city’s green cover and natural resources. overnight in the name of real estate development.
Source Google Earth Source Google Earth
In terms of planning, additional expenditure is required towards expanding city municipal limits
and integration of fringe areas with the city infrastructure. This also leads to increased stress on
resources such as materials and water that need to be supplied to these areas. Increased expenditure
towards infrastructural growth and development is also required in order to add more transportation
services. Adding more civic amenities such as hospitals, schools, and universities, further increases
the stress on resources.
Building occupants incur higher expenditure towards constantly increasing the supply for water
and power at the site level. There is an increasing need for water and power back-up to cater to
localized demand, but little is understood about where these come from or at what cost. This also
results in adding more energy-intensive technologies to ensure energy efficiency, which also has a
higher embodied energy value and, thus, increased stress on resources.
Solutions
The solutions need to take into account site planning decisions at all levels, such as the following.
Natural
Sites for new developments should be carefully assessed in the context of the wider environment,
particularly in relation to the habitats dwelling on-site or in adjacent sites. This will ensure biodiversity
protection in the long run, along with preservation and protection of
# Carbon sinks
