Odisha leads the way in low-carbon, sustainable urban development
Bhubaneswar, Oct 31 (UNI) Odisha is set to pioneer sustainable urban development through low-carbon building practices.
The promotion of innovative materials, such as Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste products and Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3), could be transformative for the State’s construction sector, said Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department.
“Odisha has taken a significant step forward in its journey towards sustainable and climate-resilient urban growth,” Padhee said.
She was speaking at a one-day workshop titled “Mainstreaming Low-Carbon Building Materials to Transform the Built Environment in Odisha.”
The workshop was jointly organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and Development Alternatives, held at the IIT Madras campus.
Padhee emphasised the need for collective commitment and conscious planning to achieve a greener, more sustainable future.
“Whatever we do in construction must consciously contribute to a healthier environment,” she said, adding, “We can only progress if we believe we can — and ensure our development is greener and eco-friendly.”
She also highlighted the Government’s strong commitment to fostering sustainable urbanisation through regulatory reforms, capacity building, and entrepreneurship incentives.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of industry experts, academics, and government officials to deliberate on strategies for mainstreaming low-carbon materials in Odisha’s infrastructure ecosystem.
Prof. Manu Santhanam of IIT Madras stressed the urgency for the construction industry to adopt low-carbon materials as mainstream solutions and optimise the use of raw materials for both structural and non-structural applications.
The event reaffirmed Odisha’s vision of aligning urban development with India’s net-zero goals and the national aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Through such initiatives, the state continues to lead by example in promoting sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
