Rashtrapati Bhawan goes green

New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) - Setting an example for taking up an eco-friendly lifestyle, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is being transformed into a green, energy efficient and plastic-free model township.
At the initiative of President Pratibha Patil, 'Project Roshini', an endeavour to make President's Estate an eco-friendly township, will be launch in the first week of July.
The project, to be undertaken in collaboration with New Delhi Municipal Council, endeavours to convert the estate into an eco-friendly, green, energy efficient and a plastic-free model township, Dr Christy L. Fernandez, Secretary to President, told reporters here Saturday.
Various initiatives will be taken up in a "time-bound and phased manner", he said.
"The steps in the initial stage will include segregation of solid and wet wastes, rainwater harvesting and ban on usage of plastic bags," Dr P.K. Sharma, Medical Officer, N.D.M.C. said.
In due course, increase in the green cover in the estate, energy audit and conservation and replacement of L.P.G. gas by eco-friendly C.N.G. piped gas will be done, Rashtrapati Bhawan sources said.
"Under the programme, the biodegradable waste would be composted in the President's Estate itself and the organic manure generated will be used in the Estate's gardens," Sharma said.
The project also aims to convert the waste generated in the President's gardens into vermi-compost.

Presently, the Garden Office procures vermi-compost for
the gardens. "With the project in place, the vermi-compost
demand would be met indigenously," Sharma added.