SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF INS & OUTS THE 8TH ARCHIBUILD SHOW AT PARADE GROUND, SECTOR 17, CHANDIGARH ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 AT 11.00 AM

  • Distinguished Guests, Industry Members, Media Representatives

· Ladies & Gentlemen

· I am delighted to be here at the Inaugural Ceremony of PHD Chamber’s Annual Mega Event - Ins & Outs .

· I congratulate PHD Chamber for organizing such a useful event in Chandigarh that resonates with the concept of a Smart City .

· The world today is confronted with resource shortage, climate change and rapid demographic shifts in emerging and developed countries alike.

· It is more critical than ever to think about how the built environment can provide a lifestyle that is affordable, sustainable, and healthy.

  • The construction industry plays a pivotal role in this, in both emerging and mature economies.

· It creates jobs and builds the industrial and civil infrastructure that enables other businesses to thrive.

  • Ins & Outs is being organized with an apt theme `Towards Smart and Sustainable Spaces’ as this is central to the building of smart cities.

  • The smart city is also as much centered around stimulating cooperation as sustainability : this means capitalizing on the most innovative ‘smart’ technologies and processes to ensure that new infrastructure is built not only in the most collaborative, but also in the most resource-efficient way too.
  • Smart and sustainable buildings open up a future to environments that do not just support our ways of living, but actually augment and enhance them .

· Through smart buildings people no longer occupy a space, they engage with a place. Buildings tend to be integrated like never before into the way we work and live – as a result of a correlation of building and human performance.

· Friends, Chandigarh is considered as one of the most modernized and developed cities in North India. City Beautiful is envisioned to become a leader in liveability, sustainability, equality and innovation.

  • The visionary thinking of our early planners has helped the City to evolve with highest sustainability standards.
  • As you may be aware, Chandigarh has achieved most of the goals set by the NITI Aayog in the third edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index 2020-21. Among the UTs, Chandigarh, with 79 points, topped the chart on a score of 100. The index was prepared on the basis of 15 identified goals, including a host of social, environmental and economic parameters.
  • Government's strong emphasis is on innovation, technology and creative industry, I am confident that we are on track to boosting our competitiveness in every sector and industry, including construction sector.

Friends,

· Construction industry through its projects, touches the lives of millions of citizens across the nation.

· But, the construction sector is marked by dynamism in terms of concepts, techniques and efficiency parameters. Any modern organization operating in this evolving field can ill-afford to ignore the latest developments taking place.

· You all should constantly make efforts at adopting innovative designs and practices for construction. In today’s perspective, sustainable habitat is the need of the hour. I believe that energy-efficient building is ‘the’ important strategy for sustainable urban development.

· Do use latest technology in implementing green building projects. At the same time, also pay heed to the aesthetics of these new buildings.

· We are aware of the ills of climate change and the benefits of energy efficiency. We must ensure that buildings, roads and other infrastructure created are energy efficient and environment friendly.

· So, strive to ensure that green buildings become the norm.

· You are in an industry that provides you a unique opportunity to serve the nation and touch the lives of millions of fellow citizens each day.

· If you ever doubt what you can do for the nation and society, simply think of stalwart technocrats like Shri M. Visvesvaraya and Shri E. Sreedharan.

  • Like them, nurture a spirit of innovation and emerge as solution providers in the midst of challenges . Do your duty and lead with a spirit of positivity that will allow you to make meaningful changes – both at your work places as well as in society at large.

· Ins & Outs has brought various stakeholders of construction sector on one platform, and I am sure the deliberations here will help in establishing a knowledge hub for Smart Cities and realize urban Smart City solutions by providing a forum where diverse participants can network and take part in discussions on urban development.

· I am sure, the deliberations during this mega event will provide valuable knowledge about development of new sustainable ecosystems, manufacturing processes, building design and construction, smart material and communication that have more ecological values, as well as to restore the disrupted ecosystems and polluted environment for bringing the harmony of human wellbeing and Nature through new advanced technologies.

· Continue to serve the country in your own way with renewed dedication and commitment in the years to come. Remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi who had said and I quote: "Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or another. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and it will make not only for our own happiness, but that of the world at large” (unquote).

· With these words, I once again congratulate PHD Chamber and hope Ins & Outs will be a great success.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.