11.1 General
Greenbelts and landscaping including plantation of shrubs and trees help to certain extent in enhancing the environmental quality.
11.1.1 Planting of trees in streets and in open spaces should be done carefully to take advantage of both shades and sunshine without obstructing the flow of wind circulation and sight. Their advantage for abating glare and for providing cool and/or warm pockets in developed areas should also be taken.
11.2 Norms for Planting of Shrubs and Trees
11.2.1 Suitable provisions may be made for greeneries including plantation of shrubs and trees as a part of environmental protection in general. This aspect shall be taken care of from the initial stage of town and country planning, zoning and planning of development of particular area and group housing. Finally, this aspect shall also be taken into account in planning individual building of different occupancies.
11.2.2 The types of plants, the distance between trees/plants from the building and the distance between plants shall be carefully worked out keeping in view the structural safety and aesthetic requirements of buildings.
11.3 Trees shall be numbered area-wise, plot-wise and road-wise by the concerned authority and they shall be checked periodically.
11.4 Cutting and pruning of trees in public as well as private areas shall be suitably regulated. Trees shall be cut only after obtaining the permission of the Authority designated for this purpose.
11.5 The landscape planning and design shall be done in accordance with Part 10 ‘Landscape Development, Signs and Outdoor Display Structures, Section 1 Landscape Planning, Design and Development’ of the Code.
11.6 Water Conservation and Augmentation
In view of critical shortage of water, conservation of water by rain water harvesting and by use of recycled water to the maximum extent possible is required. In this regard the provisions given in 11.6.1 to 11.6.5 may be adopted.
11.6.1 The local authority preparing a town-planning scheme or a development plan should see that the local water bodies are preserved, and if dry, are activated by directing water-courses appropriately. If required, the same should be enlarged, deepened, etc.
11.6.2 The water body should be protected by ensuring that no permanent/temporary construction/development takes place around it up to a distance of from the edge of the water body and the same shall be suitably landscaped. Further, the public shall have easy access to the water body.
11.6.3 The rain water run off shall be suitably directed to recharging wells in plots belonging to the local authority and of appropriate design. The local authority should encourage for collection of rain-water from roofs and terraces and direct the same either to a storage tank or to a recharging well. These shall be done in accordance with Part 9 ‘Plumbing Services (including Solid Waste Management), Section 2 Drainage and Sanitation’ of the Code.
11.6.4 Buildings having central air conditioning plants requiring water for cooling purposes may not be allowed to use fresh water for the purpose.
11.6.5 Commercial or residential multi-storeyed complexes may use recycled water for flushing of toilets, horticulture and fire fighting purposes. Separate storage tanks and separate distribution pipes shall be provided for the purpose.