The inaugural session featured the release of a GRIHA publication in Hindi, offering guidelines on sustainable construction management, design implementation, and operation and maintenance. The GRIHA Award Ceremony honored GRIHA-rated projects in Madhya Pradesh for their exemplary commitment to sustainability. Additionally, PM SHRI schools of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which have achieved GRIHA 4- and 5-star ratings under the GRIHA for Existing Schools variant, were felicitated for their initiatives to create greener learning environments.
Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO, GRIHA Council, and Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI, in his welcome address, highlighted, “Globally, everyone is talking about taking action on climate change. What truly matters is converting those discussions into tangible actions. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has taken significant strides in promoting green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development. I am very pleased to see that projects in the region are taking action and actively moving towards sustainable development.”
In his special remarks, Shri R. K. Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Regional Office – Bhopal, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Ministry of Education, Government of India, underscored the role of students in addressing climate change, “Acknowledging the important role that our students and workforce play in the revolutionary journey of climate change is essential. Our young people's creativity and our experts' commitment will determine how sustainable and resilient we are to climate change.”
Shri Lalit Krishan Singh Dehiya, Pr. CCIT, MP & CG, Income Tax Department, in his keynote address at the inaugural session, stated, “In earlier times, sustainable living revolved around waste as a resource, with the circular economy at its core. Today, however, the situation has changed, as we increasingly pollute and exploit our natural environment. Change cannot come from the efforts of just one individual or organization; it requires collective action. I commend GRIHA Council and TERI for their initiatives and the policies they have implemented to encourage individuals and organizations to adopt green building principles and nurture our planet. We must also work diligently and collectively to reduce carbon emissions.”
Shri Manu Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam, Government of Madhya Pradesh,in his inaugural address emphasized, “Today, we cannot afford to ignore renewable energy. Solar power has become a viable option, and we are committed to significantly enhancing green energy generation in Madhya Pradesh, aiming for 50% of our total power consumption to come from renewable sources. The positive impacts of this shift may become evident in the coming years, and it is our responsibility to safeguard our future generations.”
At the conclave, three plenary sessions were organized on Net Zero pathways for resource optimization, water-sensitive urban design, and building a climate-smart Bhopal, providing valuable insights into strategies for resilient and sustainable development. These deliberations built upon the success of the pre-event Green Building Tour on 11 September 2025 to the New Income Tax Office Building, a GRIHA 5-star provisionally rated project. The tour showcased practical demonstrations of water conservation, renewable energy integration, and solid waste management, giving participants first-hand exposure to sustainable building strategies in practice.
In his closing remarks and vote of thanks,Mr. Seth reiterated the GRIHA Council’s commitment to advancing climate-smart solutions for India’s urban and rural landscapes.
