Telangana Launches 5 Point Retro-Fit Program For Sustainable IT Parks

Telangana IT & Industries Minister K Taraka Ramarao on Wednesday inaugurated a Retrofitting center on the premises of Tech Mahindra in Madhapur, Hyderabad. Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), in technical cooperation with the Indo-German Environment Partnership Cell (IGEP), of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, has setup this Center and launched the Retro-fitting Programme for Information Technology Parks in Cyberabad Zone. Representatives from German Emabassy and many CEOs of IT companies participated at the event. Retrofitting is about adding new green-friendly features to older systems. It is aimed at improving the economic performance, work environment, employability and environment performance of the IT parks and will be initially tested in IT parks in Madhapur and Nanakramguda.

“GIZ has already done ‘greening’ of industrial parks and retrofitting in Jadcherla and Nacharam and has announced a Rs 10-crore grant for studying the impact of climate change. We, from our side, will provide Rs 5 lakh support to the five IT parks for taking up the initiative and ultimately all the 124 buildings are being aimed for retrofitting,” said Minister KTR.

The Retro-fitting Programme for IT Parks of Cyberabad Zone is expected to improve the sustainable development of Industrial Parks of TSIIC and Cyberabad Zone through a five-point programme involving:

1) Cycle to work

2) Retrofitting of existing office buildings to convert them into green buildings (green roofs and walls) with CII-GDB Council

3) Convert all buildings into zero waste buildings with NASSCOM Foundation; Use solar energy

4) Safe disposal of electronic waste; rain water harvesting; storm-water Management

5) Converting all existing office buildings into accessible & friendly buildings for physically challenged

Speaking on the occasion, KTR said the government would spare no efforts to make Hyderabad Green. He reminded the Government’s plans to plant 200 Crore samplings in next 3 years and the examination of a proposal to construct a Cycling Track alongside the Outer Ring Road adjoining the service road to hold international cycling events or competitions.

Guests at the event said Telangana is quickly identifying new opportunities to enhance the quality of life of the people who live and work here, and those who are visitors and that the 5-point environmental initiatives will help Hyberabad catch up with other cities that now exemplify the best urban practices across the world.

TSIIC has partnered with NASCOM Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII Godrej GBC), Forest Department of Government of Telangana, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Ground Water Department of Government of Telangana State, Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC), Indentcity and Society for Rural Awakening and Community Organisation (SRACO) for this program.