- Prelims: Parliament-Structure, organization and functioning, PMAY, LightHouse Projects (LHPs), greenhouse gas (GHG), World bank, 74th amendment etc
- Mains GS Paper II: Parliament- structure, functioning and conduct of Business etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Finance Minister announced the construction of 2 crore additional houses over the next 5 years under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) and the introduction of a new housing scheme for the middle class.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G):
- To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)e.f 1st April, 2016.
- Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
- Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
- To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
- Beneficiaries: People belonging
- SCs/STs
- freed bonded laborers and non-SC/ST categories
- widows or next-of-kin of defense personnel killed in action
- ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces
- disabled persons and minorities.
- Selection of Beneficiaries: Through a three stage validation – Socio Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.
- Cost Sharing: The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.
Modern technologies in PMAY mission:
● LightHouse Projects (LHPs) are underway as part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC), spanning six sites across six States.
○ LHPs leverage modern technology and innovative processes
■ To reduce construction time and build more resilient and affordable houses for the underprivileged.
● Utilize alternative construction technologies such as Mivan: It utilizes advanced aluminum formwork, which is recyclable and reusable, to cast and construct various building elements.
○ This approach surpasses traditional construction methods in terms of speed and quality
○ It has relatively lower environmental impact due to reduced wastage in the construction phase.
○ Mivan offers higher efficiency and reduces the overall duration and cost of the project; they present a conundrum.
Impact of materials on environment:
● The extensive use of cement and steel without proper insulation results in increased heat gain from the building envelope, causing thermal distress.
○ Occupants resort to increased use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners.
● The reliance on cooling appliances triggers a surge in electricity consumption, thereby contributing to elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
● Predominant use of lower efficiency appliances (despite the availability of high efficiency appliances) owing to lower purchase costs leads to higher electricity consumption and resultant greenhouse gas emissions.
Steps for Sustainable housing:
- Harmonious balance among multiple goals lies in the obligatory implementation of guidelines embedded within building codes, initiatives such as Eco Niwas Samhita.
- This framework directs attention towards refining building envelope characteristics pertaining to specific climate zones
- It facilitates a thermally comfortable environment within built spaces.
- The Smart Ghar III project in Rajkot, an affordable housing initiative under the PMAY Untenable Slum Redevelopment project, serves as a prime example of achieving indoor thermal comfort through passive design implementation.
- Incorporate detailed passive design aspects in building design mandating the adoption of codes and guidelines.
Challenges in design :
- Architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, and end-users
- Constraints and levels of awareness regarding sustainable practices.
- Hurdles in promoting the adoption of passive designs is the lack of tangible benefits perceived by the end-users owing to a lack of awareness.
Way Forward
- An ecosystem change is needed across the entire value chain to encourage the adoption and rightful implementation of the codes.
- Raising awareness and fostering collaboration among stakeholders and incentivising developers to prioritize passive designs.
- Considering the growing significance of the building sector and its contribution to GHG emissions, the need to address the environmental impact of construction activities is imperative.
- With an increasing number of building stocks on the horizon, it is important to analyze the trade-offs between embodied and operational emissions.
- By weaving environmental consciousness into the fabric of housing initiatives
- ensure that the homes not only shelter individuals but are also robust structures that make residents resilient to a warming climate.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
To what extent, in your opinion, has the decentralization of power in India changed the governance landscape at the grassroots?(UPSC 2022) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
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