India is known for its powerhouse economy, which is forecast to grow at 7.5% this year. Less well-known, however, is the country’s push towards sustainability. Spending on clean energy in India is expected to exceed $10.5bn this year, an increase of $3bn from 2014. India is showing the world that economic success and concern for the environment are far from mutually exclusive. In Rajasthan, the Mahindra development shows how these two aims can be aligned in a dynamic and exciting way.
Mahindra: ‘India’s Green Project’
Mahindra World City, Jaipur was launched in 2007 by the Mahindra Group and the Rajasthan State Industrial and Investment Corporation. Mahindra sits only 25km from Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’, which has a booming tourist trade. Mahindra is also host to many international businesses, including Coca Cola and the technology company Ericsson. The Rajasthan region has recently invested in a $626m solar park to provide 5GW of solar-generated electricity. Set on over 3000 acres, Mahindra World City Jaipur is home to a Special Economic Zone, highlighting India’s continuing mission to be a global business hub. But this is not the only aim of the Mahindra project.
Mahindra Group have set out their plans to make the city a shining example of sustainable development. The first Asian city to join the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the project has committed to becoming climate-positive within a decade. The developers hope to continually reduce waste, particularly in the form of CO2 emissions. Energy efficiency, transport, and good waste management are key to this. The method of water supply distribution uses 30% less energy than traditional methods. Timer switches in communal areas and on street lamps aim to reduce electricity usage. The project aims to re-purpose waste water form Jaipur for use in industrial units.
Through tweaking everyday processes, the project hopes to become climate neutral in ten years. Then by reducing CO2 emissions by 60,000 tonnes each year by 2025, become climate-positive.
These efforts have seen the World City become the first Asian city to receive Stage 2 Climate Positive Development certification. Mahindra World City, Jaipur is one of many projects pursued by the Mahindra Group. The group is worth more than $16bn, and operates businesses ranging from real estate, financial services, and aerospace. They aim to practise sustainability across all of their businesses. The first Mahindra World City was built near Chennai as a response to India’s growing urban population, set to double within a decade. With ever growing populations, governments and enterprise must work together to meet these social and environmental challenges in the way Mahindra has done. Mahindra World City, Jaipur is only the beginning.
