GHMC takes the green way

Come June, the 2500 sq ft bamboo conference hall on the rooftop of GHMC Central Zonal Commissioner Office in Khairatabad, will hog the limelight. For the first time, a government office in the country is getting equipped with an eco-friendly space, thanks to Hari Chandana Dasari (IAS), Central Zonal Commissioner.

But what prompted her to take up the initiative? “I am a graduate in Environmental Economics, so I support initiatives for a green cause. Our premises is among the oldest in the city, so with growing staff, we need more space. Usually, we are left to look for space outside the office for a meeting. Instead of going for a concrete structure, we decided to use bamboo. Earlier, bamboo was used only in farms and as decorative pieces, but we went further,” she says.

Chandana further adds that bamboo is not just eco-friendly, but also cost effective. “A regular concrete construction might cost around Rs 25-30 lakh. But by opting for bamboo, we will complete it under Rs 10 lakh.”

Talking about its durability, she says, “Bamboo lasts for 10 to 15 years. Also, electricity for the bamboo conference room will be generated through solar power.”

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Chandana has taken up such an initiative. Earlier, she had inspired people by using old tyres as furniture. “When I was serving in the North Zone, I took up this initiative. We had a yard where scrap used to be dumped, and we recycled that into furniture.” Chandana is also eco-friendly when she is not working. “At home, we use solar power and I convert household waste into compost and fertilise my plants with it,” she says.  

She strikes a balance between work and personal life by spending time with her children and reading books, which she considers a huge stress buster.