Construction Dust Chokes Bengaluru's Air

Bengaluru faces a significant challenge from construction dust, which is heavily impacting the city's air quality and hindering pollution control efforts. Despite being in a better position than many North Indian metros, senior officials highlighted at an Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) conference that construction dust is a dominant source of PM10 pollution. The government is considering incentives for green construction through by-laws and zoning rules.

Emphasis is placed on responsible construction practices, moving beyond mere certification. Officials noted that while systems for managing construction and demolition debris are in place, compliance is poor. Developers are urged to change their mindset, taking ownership of sustainability throughout the construction process, rather than solely outsourcing debris disposal. This includes deploying dedicated sustainability teams to monitor on-site practices.

Karnataka has achieved a notable position as the country's third-largest hub for green buildings, with approximately 1,500 IGBC-registered projects. Industry representatives believe that even modest incentives could accelerate adoption and influence occupant behavior. The possibility of making Vidhana Soudha the world's first net-zero legislature is also being examined, with technical groundwork reportedly ready.