Latest news with #SSureshKumar
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Amaravati will emerge as model green capital: Narayana
Vijayawada: Municipal administration and urban development minister Ponguru Narayana said Andhra Pradesh is aiming to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040. He said the govt is focusing on sustainable urban development, green buildings, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The minister was speaking at the IGBC Green Andhra Summit 2025 organised at the Novotel Hotel in Vijayawada on Thursday. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the summit brought together govt officials, urban planners, and industry representatives to discuss sustainable development and green infrastructure. Principal secretary S Suresh Kumar said the summit marks a defining moment for the state's commitment to sustainability. Greening the construction sector is an environmental imperative, and green buildings must become the norm. IGBC continues to be at the forefront of India's green movement and must now aim to double the green-certified footprint over the next two years. "To drive this, the government has introduced dual financial incentives—impact fee discounts of up to 20% and RERA project registration fee refunds of up to 20% for IGBC-certified Silver, Gold, and Platinum-rated multi-storied buildings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These 11 Everyday Foods Might Be the Key to Knee Pain Relief Undo Together, these measures support building a climate-resilient and sustainable ecosystem. Achieving Net Zero is not the task of a few, but the responsibility of all," said Suresh Kumar. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between AP Metro Rail Corporation (APMRCL) and CII-IGBC to integrate green building standards in metro infrastructure projects. Another MoU was signed between the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and IGBC to support green urban planning in Vizag. APCRDA Kanna Babu informed that 116 projects were registered for IGBC certification at the summit. He said that the APCRDA headquarters building received Net Zero Energy certification. Kamalakar Babu, vice-chairman and managing director of NREDCAP, also addressed the event and spoke about the potential of renewable energy integration in future infrastructure. Vijaya Sai Meka, chair of the IGBC Amaravati Chapter, participated in the discussions on Net Zero targets and green building policies. Panel sessions were conducted on topics such as sustainable building materials, green city development, and energy-efficient design. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
State govt issues fresh LRS notification with 90-day deadline
Vijayawada: The state government launched a final, time-bound opportunity for regularising unapproved layouts and plots through the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS). Property owners have 90 days to apply via the official portal, which is now live. The department of municipal administration and urban development said that this is the last chance for regularisation, with no further extensions. Eligible plots must have registered sale deeds dated on or before June 30, 2025, covering individual owners, welfare associations, and developers, provided at least one plot in the layout was sold before the deadline. The scheme applies to areas under municipal bodies, urban development authorities, and master plan zones, excluding the Amaravati capital city area. The initiative addresses public demand to bring unregulated layouts under proper planning norms. Regularised plots will gain access to building permissions, bank loans, and civic services like water supply, street lighting, and drainage. Revised fees, based on plot size and land value, make the process affordable, with a 10 per cent discount for full payment within 45 days and a 5 per cent discount within 90 days. Applicants must submit a sale deed, site plan, encumbrance certificate, and other documents, with a minimum payment of Rs.10,000 or 50 per cent of total charges at application. Layouts lacking open space require a 7 per cent land value compensatory charge after a 50 per cent concession. Ineligible plots include those on government land, water bodies, road alignments, environmentally sensitive zones, or in legal disputes. Flood-prone areas, green buffers, and assigned lands are also excluded. Principal secretary S Suresh Kumar stressed that this is a final administrative step, urging prompt action. Funds collected will upgrade local infrastructure, benefiting residents directly. Unregularised plots risk penalties, legal action, or inclusion in the Prohibitory Property Watch Register. Visit for details and assistance.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
ULBs told to intensify revenue generation
Vijayawada: Urban local bodies (ULBs) must focus on bridging infrastructure gaps not covered under Central or external funding schemes and improve their financial self-reliance, said S Suresh Kumar, principal secretary, municipal administration and urban development. He stressed that ULBs should independently allocate funds to address local needs instead of relying solely on schemes like AMRUT, UIDF, or AIIB. Suresh Kumar made these remarks during a state-level video conference on Saturday, where he conducted a comprehensive review with all municipal commissioners. The meeting focused on enhancing financial discipline and revenue sustainability in ULBs. He underlined the importance of boosting statutory collections such as property tax and vacant land tax, and encouraged ULBs to adopt innovative funding models like Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to reduce reliance on government grants. As part of this effort, commissioner and director of municipal administration Dr P Sampath Kumar presented a detailed financial health report of each ULB for 2024–25, mapping their revenue potential, expenditure patterns, and fiscal goals. Dr Sampath Kumar urged ULBs to critically assess their budgetary performance, identify inefficiencies, and reorient their spending towards core services—especially sanitation. He said priorities should include solid waste management, scientific disposal, door-to-door garbage collection, and clean public spaces. Improving these areas, he noted, would enhance urban livability, public health, and environmental quality. He also advised municipal bodies to strengthen financial planning, control costs, and optimize resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Secretariat to go plastic-free by Aug 15; ban in Andhra by 2026 June
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government has set an ambitious target to make the State Secretariat completely free of single-use plastics by August 15, 2025, and aims to extend the ban across the entire State by June 5, 2026. The initiative follows a call from Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to promote environmental sustainability and safeguard public health. Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), S Suresh Kumar, announced the initiative during a training session for Mandal Liaison Officers (MLOs) on Friday. He highlighted the harmful effects of single-use plastics, citing microplastic pollution as a growing threat linked to various cancers and health risks for both humans and animals.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
NTR Smart Township scheme revamped to boost sales
Vijayawada: The state government announced a significant revamp of the NTR Smart Townships scheme, aiming to revitalise Middle-Income Group (MIG) housing projects, streamline plot allotments, and boost revenue. The updated guidelines, outlined in GO Ms No 148 by the municipal administration and urban development department, seek to expedite project execution, enhance transparency, and better cater to market demand. The NTR Smart Townships initiative, originally designed to provide affordable and well-planned housing for the middle class, has encountered substantial hurdles. Out of 74 approved projects across 66 Assembly Constituencies, only 36 have commenced, with a mere 29 per cent of plots sold and just 23 per cent of anticipated revenue realised. The government attributes this lackluster performance to restrictive policies, including a lottery-based plot allocation system, an Rs 18 lakh income ceiling, a one-plot-per-family rule, and uniform pricing irrespective of plot size or location. To rectify these issues, the government has suspended new applications for launched layouts. Pending applications will be addressed through one-time lotteries. Unsold plots will now be put up for auction, adhering to Development Authority norms, to accelerate infrastructure development. Furthermore, non-launched MIG projects will be re-designated as commercial housing layouts, to be managed by Urban Development Authorities (UDAs) under revised regulations or government directives, promoting a more market-driven strategy. Municipal administration and urban development principal secretary S Suresh Kumar said, 'The NTR Smart Townships were conceived to provide affordable housing, but public response has been inadequate. These revised guidelines are intended to streamline processes and attract more buyers.' The special officer for MIG layouts, Director of Town and Country Planning, and engineer-in-chief of public health have been instructed to implement these changes immediately. Provisions under Section 3 of GO Ms No 76, dated July 28, 2021, will no longer apply to unallotted plots in launched layouts.
