Hyderabad: The GHMC has made 20 per cent greenery mandatory in the plot area for those applying for permission to build apartments and multi-storey buildings.
The norm is greenery in 10 per cent of the plot area now; the corporation has added a requirement of a green strip measuring one or 1.5 metres based on the height of the building.
The GHMC said several property owners were encroaching on the footpath in the name of greenery. Every applicant should earmark 20 per cent of the plot area for greenery and 30 per cent for roads and setbacks.
Corporation officials said that it would issue occupancy certificate only after inspecting the building and verifying whether the builders had left space for gardening or not. The rules will be issued shortly.
Officials said the corporation has decided to implement the green building norms in its offices. The adoption of the norms of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) would lead to up to 20 per cent saving in power consumption, about 20 per cent reduction in water consumption, the GHMC said.
Used water can be recycled and diverted for gardening. The green building norms include changes in the building to let in sunlight, using LED bulbs and installing water percolation pits.
