Kolkata: The state govt is framing stricter norms for urban wetland conservation and making rainwater harvesting mandatory for new building plan approvals. The proposed measures will also assess steps taken by developers to minimise water wastage, said urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul at CII-IGBC Green Building Summit in New Town on Friday.“New Town, with its IGBC green-city certification, stands as a benchmark, demonstrating how incentivising green buildings with additional FAR, EV charging infrastructure and preserving 30% open green spaces creates a healthier city. But the future of Bengal cannot be confined to Kolkata alone. We are planning to take the green infrastructure blueprint to Durgapur, Asansol, Howrah, Siliguri and Chandernagore as well,” she said.Drawing attention to the drainage system in Kolkata, the minister stated that “unplanned encroachment” had choked many drainage channels, leaving the city and towns vulnerable to waterlogging.As for Tarakeswar’s being recognised as Bengal’s cleanest city under Swachh Survekshan 2026 awards, the minister said: “My message for all local municipal bodies across the state is that let it not be an exception. Let it be our baseline. We must view waste as resource, not burden.”Vibhu Goel, managing director of WBHIDCO, stated that work was underway for smart lighting in New Town. He said: “We recognised the importance of moving beyond conventional urban planning towards integrated resilience, urban regeneration and Net Zero pathways. Our approach included adopting Sponge City principles for stormwater management, strengthening green infrastructure, promoting passive cooling and encouraging the retrofitting of existing buildings.”Industry and commerce minister Tapas Roy, who was also present at the summit, stated that industrial development should go hand in hand with environmental responsibility in the state.
