The government now has its eyes set on turning all big ticket projects by well-known builders into green townships. The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) is trying to develop 50 green townships under its existing solar city programme.

The ministry will give funds to builders under this programme to develop a project plan that has the components needed for a green township. “But the ministry will not give any funds towards construction, only software cost for developing a project plan will be provided,” an official from the ministry told Governance Now. The funds will be for the inclusion of green building and renewable features in the project plan being developed.

The official said that the fund amount will be a fixed one as “just the project plan preparation cost for these townships goes into several lakhs.” The fund will not depend on the area. He said that the government is trying to promote private builders to adopt the green way for building townships.

While guidelines for green buildings already exist, the government is now developing guidelines for large townships separately. “We expect the guidelines for big townships to be ready by six months,” the official added.