The programme, backed by a credit line of €100 million from AFD and a grant of €12 million from EU, allows banks, housing finance companies and home buyers to fund green and affordable housing projects and investments therein.

Under the capacity building and awareness creation initiatives of the programme, a training session was held for the officials of the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). Green-building experts and officials of NHB were also present.

The training session underlined the many benefits – environmental, economic and social – of green housing for promoters, users and other stakeholders, such as reduced water consumption, less energy usage, less emission of greenhouse gases.

The session covered technical concepts and know-how on green affordable housing in order to enable the officials to include these in their construction methodology. Various materials and techniques utilised in construction of these buildings were explained in detail.

“GDA is very keen on organising such seminars and training sessions so that awareness can be created at mass and grassroots level among the technical people and developers. This will help them understand the benefits of going green and increase adoption of the green techniques in the general construction methodologies. GDA is developing this office complex and we want to develop it as a green office complex,” said Mr. Asheesh Shivpuri, Chief Town Planner, GDA.