All SEZs have to get green certification: Centre

The government has issued new guidelines making it mandatory for all existing and new special economic zones (SEZs) to obtain green certification.

The UPA government has come out with rules which clearly state that developers of existing and new SEZs will have to obtain a green certificate either from the Centre or organizations recognized by the Union government. The guidelines pertain to optimum use of energy and water. SEZs will also have to focus on waste management, tree plantation, site preservation and restoration, internal transportation and IT infrastructure.

The Centre has made it mandatory for new buildings inside SEZs to be energy efficient. It has chalked out measures to be taken for improving the micro climate of SEZs to avoid the heat island effect. This can be obtained by providing rooms with vegetated roof. The rules also make it compulsory for organic waste generated within SEZs to be utilized for power generation.

The rules say that a minimum of 50 per cent of hot water requirement, including residential. Institutional and pre- heating for industrial purposes, should be met by solar heating systems. Setting up of water treatment plant is compulsory. SEZ will have to reuse waste water for landscaping, flushing and air conditioning requirements.

SEZ will have to provide common storage area for recyclable waste. Each zone will have its own internal transportation facilities by way of electrically driven vehicles, CNG, bi-diesel or any other environment friendly fuels, make provision for bicycle lanes to encourage occupants in cycling to and from work place, exclusive pedestrian lane and provide internal connectivity through street network.