FAQs

General:

1. What are human settlements?

Is a habitat comprising of manmade and natural environment in which man lives works, raises his family and seeks his physical spiritual and intellectual well being.

2. What is a Habitat?

The place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs

3. What is the difference between Urban Area and Rural Area?

The definitions adopted are as per the census of India.

An urban area, according to the Census definition, consists of: 

1) All statutory towns: All places with a municipality, corporation, Cantonment Board or notified town area committee, etc. so declared by state law. And 

2) Census towns: Places which satisfy following criteria:- 

a. A minimum population of 5000 ; 
b. At least 75 percent of male working population engaged in non-  agricultural pursuits; and 
c. A density of population of at least 400 persons per sq km. 

In addition, some areas falling in the vicinity of city or town are also considered as urban area if they are treated as the out growths (OGs) of the main urban unit. Such OGs are shown as urban agglomerations. As per the census definition, Urban Agglomeration is a continuous urban spread constituting a town and its adjoining urban outgrowths (OGs) or two or more physical contiguous town together and any adjoining urban out growths of such towns.

The basic unit for rural areas is revenue village, which has definite surveyed boundaries. The revenue village may comprise several hamlets, but the entire village has been treated as one unit .In un-surveyed areas like settlements within forest areas, each habitation area with locally recognized boundaries within each forest range officer's area was treated as one unit.

4. What is Municipal Corporation, municipality, Nagar panchayat? What is their role in human settlements?

As per the Indian Constitution, 74th Amendment Act of 1992, there are three categories of urban local bodies namely; 

• Mahanagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation), 

• Nagar Palika (Municipality), 

• Nagar Panchayat (Notified Area Council, City Council). 

These municipal bodies of India are vested with a long list of functions broadly relate to public health, welfare, regulatory functions, public safety, public infrastructure works, and development activities that includes town planning activities.

5. What is the role of a development authority?

In some cities a separate authority apart from the municipal body is authorized for the town planning activities. This authority is in charge of preparation of development plans, land acquisition, housing, urban landscape, conservation of ecology, etc. e.g: Delhi Development Authority,  Banglore Development Authority, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, etc.

6. What is an Eco- Sensitive Area?

Ecological sensitivity is defined as the imminent possibility of:

• permanent and irreparable loss of extant life forms from the world; or 

• significant damage to the natural processes of evolution and speciation.

7. What can I construct in an Eco- sensitive area?

Construction activities are either regulated or prohibited in eco-sensitive areas. The conditions differ with respective notified area. Hence refer the eco-sensitive area notification of your respective zone. Refer following link (http://envfor.nic.in/legis/eco-senstive.htm)

8. What is an SEZ?

SEZ’s are designated areas in countries that possess special economic regulations that are different from other areas in the same country.

In India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000. This policy intended to make SEZs an engine for economic growth supported by quality infrastructure complemented by an attractive fiscal package, both at the Centre and the State level, with the minimum possible regulation. For more information refer: http://www.sezindia.nic.in

9. What is a CRZ?

Coastal Regulation Zone, abbreviated to CRZ, refers to the coastal stretches of India and the water area up to its territorial water limit, excluding the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep and the marine areas surrounding these islands up to its territorial limit where the setting up and expansion of any industry, operations or processes and manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances is prohibited.

The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) upto 500 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL is declared as Coastal Regulation Zone. The High Tide Line means the line on the land upto which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide. The High Tide Line shall be demarcated uniformly in all parts of the country by the demarcating authority or authorities so authorised by the Central Government.

10. What can I construct in CRZ?

CRZ is divided into four categories based on the ecological sensitivity. The construction regulation for each category differs. Refer CRZ-Notification-2011. Refer following link:(http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information)

11. What are the objectives of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011?

The main objectives of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 are: 

• To ensure livelihood security to fishing communities & other local communities living in the coastal areas; 

• To conserve and protect coastal stretches; &

• To promote development in a sustainable manner based on scientific principles, taking into account the dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas and sea level rise due to global warming

12. What is brownfield development?

'Brownfield' land is an area of land or premises that has been previously used, but has subsequently become vacant, derelict or contaminated. Brownfield sites typically require preparatory regenerative work before any new development goes ahead, and can also be partly occupied. Development on such land is called brownfield development.

13. What is green field development?

Greenfield development is the creation of planned communities on previously undeveloped land. This land may be rural, agricultural or unused areas on the outskirts of urban areas. Greenfield development is about efficient urban planning that aims to provide practical, affordable and sustainable living spaces for growing urban populations. The planning takes future growth and development into account as well as seeks to avoid the various infrastructure issues that plague existing urban areas.

14. What do you mean by zero carbon cities?

A zero-carbon city runs entirely on renewable energy; it has no carbon footprint and will not cause harm to the planet. Sadly, most cities throughout the world produce energy by burning coal, oil and gas, unintentionally emitting carbon. Almost every activity humans do involves burning one of these fossil fuels. Initially madsar city in Abu Dhabi aimed to be a sustainable zero-carbon car-free city.

15. What are Gray and Green Infrastructure? 

Water infrastructure may be considered “gray” or “green.” 

Gray infrastructure refers to traditional practices for storm water management and wastewater treatment, using pipes and sewers, & conventional treatment systems including energy-intensive water treatment systems and processes such as membranes and reverse osmosis. 

Green infrastructure refers to sustainable pollution reducing practices such as Bio-filtration, ponds, wetlands, rain gardens and other natural land and plant based ecological treatment systems and processes that also provide other ecosystem services.

Green Buildings

1. Which are the organizations that rate buildings in India?

IGBC – Indian Green Building Council and Griha – Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, are the major organizations that play a key role in green building rating.

2. What are the benefits of Green buildings?

 The common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation[2]

3. What are the rating systems under IGBC?

a. IGBC Green Existing Buildings (Operations & Maintenance) Rating System – for all non residential buildings which has been functional atleast for one year.

b. IGBC Green Homes Rating System – for new residential constructions

c. IGBC Green Townships Rating System - designed to address large developments and it is mandatory to include residential development as part of the township.

d. IGBC Green SEZ Rating System - to facilitate the creation of energy efficient, water efficient, healthy, comfortable and environmentally friendly SEZ. 

e. IGBC Green Factory Building rating system - facilitate the development of green factories.

f. IGBC Green Landscape Rating System - primarily for new landscapes, it is also applicable for existing landscapes.

g. LEED India for New Construction

h. LEED India for Core and shell

4. What is Pre-certification in IGBC rating system?

Pre-certification is a unique aspect of the LEED India Core and Shell Rating system. Pre-certification is IGBC's formal recognition of project intent to built green. Projects aspiring for LEED India Core and Shell rating can apply for pre-certification immediately after finalizing their design & specifications. Precertification is granted to projects on review of the early design stage documentation. This documentation, which reflects a realistic set of project goals and intentions, forms the basis for an award of Pre-certification. Pre-certification specifies the anticipated level of rating for the proposed green features. Pre-certification provides the core and shell owner/developer to market his green project to potential tenants and financiers highlighting its tangible and intangible benefits. 

Upon Pre-certification, the project is expected to report progress of the project to IGBC every six months till the building is commissioned completely and occupied. This reporting is essential to extend the validity of the pre-certification. The pre-certification cost is a onetime payment submitted along with the pre-certification documents.

5. Should the project be fully commissioned to obtain IGBC certification?

Yes the project has to be commissioned to receive certification. Commissioning verifies that the building systems installed match the Basis of Design requirements and deliver desired performance. This would be physically audited by IGBC during certification process.

6. what are the thresholds for different rating levels under lGBC Green Homes rating systems?

IGBC Green Homes ratings are awarded according to the following scale:
Projects with Interior 

Projects without Interior 

 7. What is GRIHA rating?

GRIHA, an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is the national rating system for green building in India. GRIHA has been conceived by TERI and developed jointly with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a green building 'design evaluation system', and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different climatic zones of the country.