Minister KTR Launches First in India A Cool Roof Policy

Hyderabad, April 3 (Hydnow): Telangana became the first state in the country to introduce a Cool Roof Policy with a vision to make the state more thermally comfortable, heat resilient, and bring down energy consumption.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, IT and Industries, K.Tarak Rama Rao formally launched the policy today, it is effective from April 1 this year and has already been incorporated with building permit applications.

The Cool Roof program is now mandatory for all government, government-owned, non-residential, and commercial buildings irrespective of the site area or built-up area. Occupancy certificates will be issued only after ensuring compliance with the policy.

For residential buildings that have a plot area of 600 square yards and above, Cool roof application is mandatory. For buildings that have a plot area of less than 600 square yards, it is optional or voluntary. “I have personally got Cool Roof painting done for my house and it is very beneficial, said Rama Rao while addressing the audience.

The Cool roof Policy was being launched in the better interest of the people and Hyderabad. “It is a good policy but for effective implementation, self-regulation is a key factor. “Tarak Rama Rao said, adding that the cost for cool roof painting or tiles would be Rs. 300 per square meter.

The Minister further announced Telangana’s modest targets under the Cool Roof Policy. In the financial year 2023-24, targets have been set to cover five square km of the Cool Roof area in Hyderabad and 2.5 km in the rest of Telangana. The total aggregated area to be covered under Cool Roof Area by 2028-29 in Hyderabad was 200 square km and 100 square km for the rest of Telangana, he said.

The Minister directed the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar to explore awarding incentives to encourage builders and property owners to adopt Cool Roof Policy guidelines.

He also said a special training program for builders and all those involved in the construction industry about Cool Roof products and their benefits at the National Academy of Construction. (Hydnow)

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