NEWS – Karnataka’s groundbreaking policy on circular economy will be introduced in the upcoming budget.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sustainable Construction Mandate:
  • 20% of all construction materials in government projects must be sustainable.
  • Tax incentives may encourage private adoption, with benefits like concessional power for residential properties.
  • Solar panel incentives already available for commercial realty.

Focus Areas

• Infrastructure and Roads:
  • Collaboration with the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (RDPR) to explore using recycled materials and hard plastics for road construction.
  • Partnerships with the Forest Department to test these materials in other contexts like forest roads and camera traps.
• Waste Management in Water Bodies:
  • Initiatives with fisheries, tourism, and inland water transport departments to track and remove plastic waste from water bodies.
• Other Sustainability Initiatives:
  • Refurbished laptops for rural libraries.
  • Glass bottle mandates for government events.