Sustainable Construction in India

Sustainable Construction in India 1
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IN INDIA
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Sustainable Construction in India 2
Executive Summary
Adoption of sustainable construction is inevitable especially in relation to efforts of
solving the global problem of climate change. Many countries are applying different
strategies of promoting sustainable construction and focus of this paper is on India. The
main purpose of this report is to explore the current sustainable construction practices in
India, various strategies that other developed countries have used to promote
sustainable construction and the lessons that India can learn from them. Data and
information has been obtained from different sources and used to analyze the topic of
international sustainable construction and the adoption status in India. The study has
found that Indian construction industry is still dominated by conventional construction
practices that are characterized by high wastage, inadequate skilled labour force,
limited use of alternative materials and extensive use of traditional construction
methods. The Indian government, through India Green Building Council (IGBC) has
developed several initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable construction but the
adoption level in the country is still very low in comparison with developed countries
such as the U.S. and UK. There are also numerous methods that are used by other
countries, and which Indian can also use to improve adoption of sustainable
construction practices. Some of these methods include: increase public awareness,
develop and implement training programs, engage local business community, engage
the citizens, develop an appropriate regulatory framework, invest in strengthening
sustainable construction research and development (R&D), develop appropriate design
guides, provide incentives, and recognize and award the most sustainable construction
projects/structures. The prospects of sustainable construction in India are very high and
this provides great investment opportunities for both local and foreign contractors. It is
upon the government to put in place proper regulatory structures and be in the forefront
to encourage Indians to accept and adopt sustainable construction.

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary...............................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................5
2. Construction Industry of India.....................................................................................................5
3. Sustainable Construction in India..............................................................................................6
4. Factors Hindering Adopting of Sustainable Construction Practices in India..................7
4.1. Inadequate awareness.............................................................................................................7
4.2. Limited government policies and strategies..........................................................................8
4.3. Tedious approvals and clearances.........................................................................................8
4.4. Lack of subject matter experts and skilled manpower.........................................................8
4.5. Inadequate incentives...............................................................................................................9
4.6. Expensive products, equipment and methods......................................................................9
4.7. Limited building codes and standards....................................................................................9
5. Pros and Cons of Construction Practices in India and International Practices............10
5.1. Wastage...................................................................................................................................10
5.2. Alternative materials...............................................................................................................11
5.3. Traditional construction methods..........................................................................................11
5.4. Unskilled workforce.................................................................................................................12
5.5. Policy initiatives.......................................................................................................................13
6. Importance of International Exposure.....................................................................................13
7. Disadvantages of Awarding Contracts to Foreign Contractors........................................15
7.1. Employment opportunities.....................................................................................................15
7.2. Business opportunities...........................................................................................................16
7.3. Monopoly..................................................................................................................................16
7.4. Cultural risk..............................................................................................................................17
7.5. Government revenue..............................................................................................................17
8. Methods used to promote sustainable construction in India............................................17
8.1. Awareness programs..............................................................................................................17
8.2. Training programs...................................................................................................................17
8.3. Regulatory framework............................................................................................................18
8.4. Engaging the local business community..............................................................................18
8.5. Engaging the citizens.............................................................................................................18
8.6. Strengthened sustainable construction research and development (R&D)....................18

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8.7. Design guides..........................................................................................................................19
8.8. Incentives.................................................................................................................................19
8.9. Recognition and awards.........................................................................................................19
9. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................20
References................................................................................................................................................22

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1. Introduction
India is a developing country with a very ambitious development plan. One of the
key sectors that will determine successful implementation of this development plan is
construction industry. The industry will enable construction of roads, railways, airports,
ports and buildings that are needed to facilitate India’s transition from a developing
country to a developed country. However, it is also important for the country to assess
the social, economic and environmental impacts of this development plan. The
development will be ineffectual if it endangers the lives of future generations by leaving
no resources or depleted resources. Therefore it is very important for public and private
agencies and stakeholders in India to promote sustainable development for the benefit
of both the present and future generations (Kataria, et al., 2013).
Sustainability has become a very essential element in the construction industry
worldwide. Stakeholders in the construction industry are now more focused on creating
structures that are environmentally friendly and more sustainable (Vatalis, et al., 2011).
This has resulted to increased adoption of sustainable construction practices and
technological tools such as prefabrication, building information modeling (BIM),
nanotechnology, lean production, etc. (Mandal, et al., 2017); (Oke, et al., 2017). Some
of the benefits of sustainable construction include: cost reduction, waste minimization,
increased productivity, improved health, environmental protection, improved use of
natural materials, and improved quality of life, among others (Koutsogiannis, 2018). In
other words, sustainable construction has social, economic and environmental benefits.
This paper analyzes different aspects of sustainable construction in India and compares
it with international standards. The purpose of the paper is to provide information that
can help promote sustainable construction in India and make the practice competitive
with other countries.
2. Construction Industry of India
The population of India about is 1.35 billion and is projected to reach 1.5 billion by
2030 (World Population Review, 2018). About 33.2% of this population lives in urban
areas (Worldometers, 2018) and the country’s energy consumption is said to have
increased by 700% in the last four decades (Go Smart Bricks, 2016). The increasing

Sustainable Construction in India 6
population, industrialization and urbanization in India have put a lot of pressure on
natural resources. More natural resources are being extracted and depleted for the
construction of structures such as buildings, roads, highways, railways, dams, bridges,
airports, ports, etc. (Nair, 2015). The processes associated with these structures,
including planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance and demolition,
consume a lot of resources and emit large amounts of greenhouse gases hence the
need to develop and adopt practices that improve resource efficiency and minimize
greenhouse gas emissions. That is the reason why sustainability has become a critical
issue in India’s construction industry.
India is anticipated to be the third largest construction market in the world, following
China and USA, by 2021. By 2030, the global construction market is estimated to hit
$15.5 trillion and the top three markets (China, U.S. and India) are projected to account
for about 57% of the total market (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2018). The Indian
construction market comprises of real estate (residential, retail, office, leisure parks,
hotels, etc.) and urban development (urban transport, water supply, schools, healthcare
and sanitation). By 2025, Indian construction market is anticipated to reach $1 trillion
and the country’s economy will hit $10 trillion (National Real Estate Development
Council (NAREDCO), 2016). The industry contributes significantly to employment
(about 41 million people) and gross domestic product (GDP) (about 8%) (Dixit, et al.,
2017). The Indian government has been in the forefront of investing in mega
construction projects to spur infrastructure and economic growth and development
(DMG Events India, 2015). The private sector is also contributing significantly to India’s
growing construction sector.
3. Sustainable Construction in India
Sustainable construction is not quite new in India although many people are only
aware of green building. But based on statistics, India is among the leading countries in
relation to adoption of green building practices. Based on the number of green or
sustainable technology projects, India is ranked number two after the U.S. The green
building market of India is expected to double by 2022 (Go Smart Bricks, 2018a). The
increased popularity of green building has resulted to development of several rating