NGT sets 3-month deadline for forming new guidelines on glass facades to safeguard birds

Bengaluru: Taking note of the negative impact of the glass facade on highrises killing birds, increasing urban heat and consuming ten-fold more electricity for air conditioners, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the Union environment ministry to come up with guidelines on use of glass facades within three months.

The National Green Tribunal's southern zone bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati disposed of an application by activist Jagan Kumar J, who had sought better regulations.

The bench took note of the study by the Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Indian Institute of Science, where researchers showed that per capita electricity consumption of buildings located in areas dominated by high-rise buildings with glass facades ranged from 14,000 to 17,000 units per year compared to zones with eco-friendly buildings (1300-1500 units/person/year).

The tribunal also cited a biologist's statement that birds are killed in flight and found under the glass corridors and the contribution of buildings with "glazed facade" to increase of localised temperature and island island effect.

The bench took note of the submission by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that neither the Centre nor state governments have rules for regulating the amount of the glass facade in the buildings. The Centre said the state authority was free to come up with rules to limit glass facades.

While acknowledging the efforts to evolve a framework code for building construction, the tribunal said a direction to the regulatory bodies, including expert appraisal committee, State Environment Impact ASsessment Authority and pollution control boards was called for in light of the concerns.

"It would be appropriate for this tribunal to direct regulatory bodies who issue environment clearance and consent orders...to advert to the Energy Conservation Building Code and Energy Conservation Act before granting approvals," it said.

In addition, the bench directed the MOEF&CC to constitute a committee with stakeholders and experts to develop guidelines for the usage of glass facades. "These guidelines should ensure that such facades are not detrimental to avian fauna and that the energy consumption by buildings with glass facades does not negate the gains from other energy conservation measures implemented by the Government of India," it said.

The judgment said a decision on the guidelines should be finalised within a period of three months, "after which it may be enforced in all projects" by imposing necessary conditions in the environmental clearance.