Concrete

Indiaâ€™s net zero ambitions: The economic rebalancing

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2021

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The year 2050 is not far off while the enormous challenge of reducing carbon emissions stares at not only the developed nations, but developing nations as well. This is a rebalancing that encompasses several transitions in the economy from financial investments in the right technology and infrastructure interfaces, industrial and social transitions as well. While the need for financial investments is of paramount importance, one cannot ignore the deep impacts of de-carbonising the economy on people and livelihood of a large proportion of the population; the skills and expertise to cope with the future needs of a de-carbonised economy must be attended to right away.

The EU gives us some direction as they were the early starters, between 1990 and 2017, EU reduced Carbon emission by 22 per cent, while the GDP increased by 58 per cent thus decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from the economic growth. This came from large scale electrification of the energy system coupled with deployment of renewables decarbonisng energy supply and significantly reduce dependency on other third country suppliers. The improvement of energy efficiency and industrial modernization followed suit, where waste reduction and recycling took center stage.

We can take examples from two of the most energy intensive industries, cement and aluminum and the progress in the last two decades has been significant. Take Germany or Poland and the shift started from landfill laws, that became more and more stringent thus bringing in enormous focus on recycling. Take municipal waste and one would see that entire municipal waste got recycled and both these countries do not use any fossil fuels in their cement kilns. The industrial waste heat is recycled into household electrification and heating needs and very large industrial complex could be built closer to the towns because it helped to significantly reduce wastes in all forms, especially energy that could be diverted to household use, while municipal wastes could be used as fuel in the industrial heating.

Recycling of waste is all pervasive in all advanced economies of Europe thus bringing in the ten level hierarchy of progress ending with Refuse (not producing stuff) and going down the order as follows: rethink, reduce, re-use, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, repurpose, recycle and recover.

Decarbonising the transport sector by using alternative means of transport, connected and automated driving combined with the roll-out of electric vehicles and enhanced use of alternative fuels has started to give rich dividends as the Transport emissions form 24 per cent of all emissions and is a tall order. For a large economy like India the waste factor and inefficiencies of logistics alone takes away the bulk of the carbonisation needs, building efficient infrastructure and sharing the infrastructure efficiently are as important as working on electrification of mobility.

Most modern cities in Europe have moved their public transportation systems from fossil fuels completely and per capita emission has reduced by leaps and bounds as the shift from individual vehicles to public vehicles is at the root of the puzzle. Zurich for example has not increased its private car parking space for almost the last decade, thus restricting the number of vehicles that can enter the city at any point of time.

But reaping first mover benefits by modernising existing installations and investing in new carbon neutral and circular economy compatible technologies and systems will need routing of financial investments into several buckets that will put pressures on the existing expansion plans of several fossil fuel consuming industries, habits, systems and habitats. The investments have to be carefully planned in transportation infrastructure and systems, energy transition to renewable and smart grid solutions (transmission and distribution landscape) including storage systems and in smart cities that automatically create the network of carbon emission neutral solutions to everything.

This calls for investments on a massive scale as solar, wind and all renewable energy cannot be directly injected into the grid without proper storage systems in place that will be able to match supply with demand at every instant; without these the rise of renewable energy solutions will be severely limited. Connected systems that are interoperable and building on a smart network is at the core of the EU success stories.

Turning to the creation of new jobs, the focus must shift to resource allocation in efficient land, water and air usage and for sustainable agriculture, forestry and marine systems. EU has made dramatic progress here and the emission reduction in agriculture and in construction has been brought about by transitions to new technologies creating jobs.

Circular economy for a country like India must start with alternate employment opportunities for those who are currently employed in the non-renewable sectors of the economy and the puzzle can only be solved if the new skills of the circular economy can be worked on right from the schools. Here more than the investments, the intent to decouple existing economic growth drivers from carbon dependence is itself an arduous task.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Procyon Mukherjee is an ex-Chief Procurement Officer at LafargeHolcim India.

Concrete

NDMC Rolls Out Intensive Sanitation Drive Across Lutyens Delhi

Municipal body intensifies cleaning and monitoring across the capital

Published

3 days ago

March 13, 2026

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The New Delhi Municipal Council has launched an intensive sanitation drive across Lutyens’ Delhi, aiming to raise cleanliness standards in the capital’s central precincts. The programme will combine enhanced manual sweeping with mechanised cleaning and systematic waste removal to cover parks, heritage precincts and prominent thoroughfares. Authorities described the initiative as a sustained effort to improve public hygiene and reduce environmental hazards while maintaining the area’s civic image.

Operational teams have been instructed to prioritise drain clearing and litter hotspots, with special attention to markets and transit nodes that attract heavy footfall. Coordination with city utilities and waste processing units will be stepped up to ensure timely collection and disposal, and supervisory rounds will monitor adherence to cleaning schedules. Officials also intend to use data-driven planning to deploy resources efficiently and to identify recurring problem areas.

The council plans to engage resident welfare associations and business stakeholders to foster community participation in maintaining cleanliness and to support behavioural change campaigns. Public communication will be amplified through notices and outreach to encourage responsible waste handling and to inform residents about collection timings and segregation norms. Enforcement measures for littering and unauthorised dumping will be reinforced as part of a broader strategy to deter violations and sustain cleanliness gains.

The move reflects a focus on urban sanitation that officials link to public health priorities and to the city administration’s commitment to maintaining civic amenities. Monitoring mechanisms will include regular reporting and inspections to review outcomes and to recalibrate operations where necessary, according to municipal sources. The council emphasised that continued community cooperation will be essential for the drive to deliver lasting improvements in the appearance and hygiene of the capital’s core areas.

Concrete

UltraTech Appoints Jayant Dua As MD-Designate For 2027

Executive named to succeed current managing director in 2027

Published

6 days ago

March 10, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has appointed Jayant Dua as managing director (MD) designate who will take charge in 2027, the company announced. The appointment signals a planned leadership transition at one of the country’s largest cement manufacturers. The board has set a clear timeline for the handover and has framed the move as part of a structured succession plan.

Jayant Dua will be referred to as MD after assuming the role and will be responsible for overseeing operations, strategy and growth initiatives across the company’s network. The company said the designation follows established governance norms and aims to ensure continuity in executive leadership. The appointment is expected to allow a phased transfer of responsibilities ahead of the formal changeover.

The decision is intended to provide strategic stability as UltraTech Cement navigates domestic infrastructure demand and evolving market dynamics. Management will continue to focus on operational efficiency, capacity utilisation and cost management while aligning investments with long term objectives. The board will monitor the transition and provide further information on leadership responsibilities closer to the effective date.

Investors and market observers will have time to assess the implications of the announcement before the change is effected, and analysts will review the company’s outlook in the context of the succession. The company indicated that it will communicate any additional executive appointments or organisational changes as they are finalised. Shareholders were advised to refer to formal filings and company releases for definitive details on governance or remuneration.

The leadership change will be managed with attention to stakeholder interests and operational continuity, and the company reiterated its commitment to delivery on ongoing projects and customer obligations. Senior management will engage with employees and partners to ensure a smooth handover while maintaining focus on safety and compliance. Further updates will be provided through official investor communications in due course.

Concrete

Merlin Prime Spaces Acquires 13,185 Sq M Land Parcel In Pune

Rs 273 crore purchase broadens the developer’s Pune presence

Published

1 week ago

March 6, 2026

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Merlin Prime Spaces (MPS) has acquired a 13,185 sq m land parcel in Pune for Rs 273 crore, marking a notable expansion of its footprint in the city.

The transaction value converts to Rs 2,730 mn or Rs 2.73 bn.

The parcel is located in a strategic area of Pune and the firm described the acquisition as aligned with its growth objectives.

The deal follows recent activity in the region and will be watched by investors and developers.

MPS said the acquisition will support its planned development pipeline and enable delivery of commercial and residential space to meet local demand.

The company expects the site to provide flexibility in product design and phased development to respond to market conditions.

The move reflects an emphasis on land ownership in key suburban markets.

The emphasis on land acquisition reflects a strategy to secure inventory ahead of demand cycles.

The purchase follows a period of sustained investor interest in Pune real estate, driven by expanding office ecosystems and residential demand from professionals.

MPS will integrate the new holding into its existing portfolio and plans to engage with local authorities and stakeholders to progress approvals and infrastructure readiness.

No financial partners were disclosed in the announcement.

The firm indicated that timelines will depend on approvals and prevailing market conditions.

Analysts note that strategic land acquisitions at scale can help developers manage costs and timelines while preserving optionality for future projects.

MPS will now hold an enlarged land bank in the region as it pursues growth, and the acquisition underlines continued corporate appetite for measured expansion in second tier cities.

The company intends to move forward with detailed planning in the coming months.

Stakeholders will assess how the site is positioned relative to existing infrastructure and connectivity.