HDMC office, Lamington School, Chitaguppi hospital to go green

HUBBALLI: The main office of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, Lamington High School and Chittaguppi Hospital will be developed as green campuses under the Smart City project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 12.4 crore.
S H Naregal, special officer, Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL) said the green campus initiative will include rainwater harvesting, landscaping, use of non-conventional energy sources, waste management and a barrier-free campus for the differently-abled.

"The aim is to utilise natural energy to the maximum, maintain green cover and construct environmentally friendly buildings," Naregal said. "Rainwater harvesting, rooftop solar, good ventilation, environmentally friendly roads and systematic disposal of waste management is key. Rainwater harvesting is being implemented on HDMC-owned buildings. Other components of the project will be implemented one step at a time."

Asked on what basis the campuses were chosen for the implementation of the project, the official said the locations are owned by HDMC and they come under the area based development (ABD) scheme.

"Another reason is the availability of space," Naregal said. "The project will be initiated after a detailed project report is approved and tender floated."

Sources said Lamington High School is over a century old and thousands of children study there. Chitaguppi Hospit al is also one of the oldest hospitals run by HDMC and offers free treatment to the poor. The HDMC main office is one of the main landmarks of the city and a powerhouse of the twin cities. Hundreds of people visit the campus to get their work done.