Odisha pioneers low-carbon, sustainable urban development

Bhubaneswar, Oct 31: Odisha is taking a decisive step toward a greener and more resilient future by promoting low-carbon building practices in urban development.

Speaking at a one-day workshop titled “Mainstreaming Low-Carbon Building Materials to Transform the Built Environment in Odisha”, Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, said the State aims to pioneer sustainable urban growth through the adoption of innovative materials such as Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste products and Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3).

“Odisha has taken a significant step forward in its journey towards sustainable and climate-resilient urban growth. Whatever we do in construction must consciously contribute to a healthier environment,” Padhee said. She emphasized the importance of collective commitment, regulatory reforms, and entrepreneurship incentives to ensure development that is both green and inclusive.

The workshop, jointly organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and Development Alternatives, was hosted at IIT Madras. It brought together industry experts, researchers, and government officials to discuss strategies for integrating low-carbon materials into Odisha’s construction ecosystem.

Prof. Manu Santhanam of IIT Madras underscored the urgency for the construction sector to adopt low-carbon materials as mainstream solutions, highlighting the potential to optimize the use of raw materials in both structural and non-structural applications.

The event reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to aligning its urban development initiatives with India’s net-zero ambitions and the national goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Through such forward-looking initiatives, Odisha continues to lead by example in promoting sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship.