Innovate to Act: GRIHA Conclave in Raipur Pushes Net-Zero Pathways for Sustainable Cities
29 January 2026, New Delhi: GRIHA Council hosted the GRIHA Regional Conclave Raipur, 2026 on Wednesday, 28th January 2026 at Courtyard by Marriott Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under the theme ‘Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World’. The conclave brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the built environment sector to deliberate on actionable pathways for sustainable urban growth, climate resilience, and low-carbon development in the region.
The conclave commenced with a Fireside Chat titled, “From Awareness to Action: Embracing Sustainable Lifestyle”, moderated by Shri Sanjay Seth, Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, GRIHA Council & Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI, New Delhi, featuring expert perspectives from Shri Manish Pilliwar, Consultant, Pilliwar and Associates, Engineer, Architect and Planners; and Prof. (Dr) Vivek Agnihotri, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Delivering the Inaugural Address, Shri Vijay Sharma, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and Minister for Home, Government of Chhattisgarh shared, “Sustainable development must begin at the planning and design stage, not as a corrective measure. When embedded from the outset, it becomes more effective, economical, and transformative, empowering emerging districts like Bastar to grow through grassroots-led action. I am pleased to share that the Government of Chhattisgarh has recently announced several development initiatives for the Bastar region, with significant investments in railways, roads, healthcare, agriculture, and allied sectors.”
In his Keynote Address, Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Medical Education, Government of Chhattisgarh highlighted, “Our first priority must be to reduce energy consumption; when we use energy wisely, sustainability becomes easier, more effective, and beneficial for all. Conservation strengthens public health, protects resources, lowers costs, and builds resilient communities for future generations through responsible choices today. This commitment demands leadership, innovation, and accountability nationwide.”
Delivering the Welcome Address, Shri Sanjay Seth, Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, GRIHA Council & Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI, New Delhi, said, “Standing at the intersection of climate vulnerability and immense resource potential, Chhattisgarh with Naya Raipur as its model has a unique opportunity to embed sustainability at the planning stage and set a national benchmark for low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive growth that strengthens India’s energy transition while safeguarding the environment.” Shri SR Shrivastava, Engineer-in-Chief, Naya Raipur Development Authority, Government of Chhattisgarh in his Special Remarks observed, “By putting people, nature, and clean energy at the heart of development from construction worker housing to restoring existing water systems, renewable energy, and green cover; Naya Raipur sets a new benchmark for inclusive and climate-resilient urban growth.”
A technical Plenary Session titled, “Towards Net-Zero Raipur: A Strategic Pathway” was held with a thematic address by Shri Harsh Kumar Joshi, Additional Commissioner, Chhattisgarh Housing Board, Government of Chhattisgarh and moderation by Smt. Shabnam Bassi. The session explored a phased roadmap with milestones for 2030, 2040, and 2070, focusing on energy-efficient buildings, clean energy adoption, sustainable mobility, and circular resource management.
The conclave featured an Ideas to Impact Session: “Emerging Horizons: Driving Sustainable Solutions”, with presentations by Padma Shri Dr Ajay Mandavi, Community Afforestation Leader, Master of Gond tribal woodcraft from Kanker District, Chhattisgarh.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GRIHA Council and the Indian Institute of Architects, Chhattisgarh Chapter on promoting sustainability in the built environment through capacity building and training programmes of diverse stakeholder groups.
GRIHA Council felicitated 5 star-rated projects IIT Bhilai and Hon’ble CM Residence, Raipur. Additionally, a publication on JAN GRIHA V.2 Certification (Jan Awas Nirman GRIHA) was released during the Inaugural Session. The certification aims to promote sustainability at the grassroots level and encourage greener choices in residential construction.
The day concluded with a Round Table Session on “Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure in Urban Policy for a Resilient Raipur”, focusing on embedding green infrastructure such as urban forests, wetlands, blue–green corridors, permeable surfaces, and shaded public spaces into statutory planning and public investment decisions, aligned with Raipur’s Master Plan 2031.
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