Bhopal : Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday pitched for scaling up environment-friendly construction, warning that unchecked urbanisation and depleting natural resources have made climate change an immediate and “alarming” challenge.
Inaugurating a two-day all-India seminar on green building technologies at the Kushabhau Thakre auditorium, Yadav said India’s traditional architectural systems were inherently sustainable and must inform contemporary practices. The event coincided with the 113th Governing Council meeting of the Indian Building Congress (IBC).
प्रदेश सरकार ने ग्रीन बिल्डिंग तकनीक के आधार पर निर्माण कार्य किए जाने का निर्णय लिया है, आज से आयोजित दो दिवसीय सेमिनार में देश भर के अभियंता और विशेषज्ञ हिस्सा ले रहे हैं, जिसमें प्राचीन ज्ञान-विज्ञान और आधुनिक संसाधनों के साथ पर्यावरण अनुकूल बेहतर निर्माण कार्यों पर विमर्श… pic.twitter.com/YXwOAhguLc
— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) May 2, 2026
“Nature-aligned architecture is the basis of our built environment. We are today caught between expanding concrete structures and shrinking ecological resources. Promoting green construction is no longer optional,” the Chief Minister said.
Invoking the legacy of King Bhoj, Yadav said medieval urban planning in Bhopal and water management systems developed then remain enduring examples of sustainability. He referred to the Samarangan Sutradhar, noting that it articulated a balance between development and nature. “The integration of the five elements — earth, water, fire, air and space — is central to our architectural tradition,” he said.
Yadav also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to align traditional knowledge systems with modern science, and called for wider adoption of such an approach. He pointed to historic water systems in Mandu and structures around the Shipra river in Ujjain as models worth emulating.
Two memoranda of understanding were exchanged on the sidelines — between the Public Works Department (PWD) and IIT Indore for construction technology development, and between the PWD and the GRIHA Council to promote green building standards. The Chief Minister also released PWD publications and IBC’s Built Environment journal.
Stressing fiscal prudence in infrastructure expansion, Yadav said development must be aligned with efficient resource use. He flagged the state’s ongoing ‘Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan’, launched on Gudi Padwa, under which restoration of wells, stepwells and other water bodies is being undertaken with public participation.
Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh said sustainable development “is not merely an idea but a responsibility”, adding that green building techniques have been incorporated into departmental training modules. He said highways and flyovers are increasingly being designed with rainwater harvesting systems.
Deliberations at the seminar covered green materials, energy efficiency, natural lighting and ventilation, smart technologies, predictive maintenance, 3D printing and prefabrication. Officials said the discussions are aimed at addressing sectoral challenges while promoting cost-effective and sustainable construction.
Senior bureaucrats, engineers, policymakers and representatives from nearly 20 states attended the event.
