Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called for a shift from conventional “grey growth” to green, circular and regenerative development, stressing sustainable construction and environmental protection.
Bengaluru: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for a shift from conventional “grey growth” to green, circular and regenerative growth, stressing the need to place environmental protection at the centre of urban development.
Naidu made the remarks while inaugurating The Earth Centre at Whitefield, Bengaluru, along with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The Earth Centre, developed by Vista Spaces, integrates nature, technology and workplace design, with features focused on sustainable construction, material reuse and a stronger connection between built spaces and the natural environment. The project incorporates elements such as terracotta materials, landscaped terraces and climate-responsive design.
Naidu said cities need to move away from excessive dependence on concrete construction and adopt more environment-friendly approaches.
He said buildings should be designed to use resources efficiently rather than consume them excessively, while development should continue without compromising the needs of future generations.
“Development must continue while protecting the environment and keeping the needs of future generations in mind,” he said.
The Chief Minister said climate change was no longer a distant concern and called for collective responsibility towards environmental protection.
Naidu advocated greater adoption of net-zero principles in building construction, increased use of solar power, water conservation, composting and reuse of waste.
He said rooftops could be used to generate clean energy, water could be reused and waste streams could be converted into useful resources.
The Earth Centre itself has been designed around sustainability and nature-integrated architecture. Its design incorporates landscaped terraces, passive strategies and material choices aimed at improving environmental performance.
Naidu said such approaches could contribute to the objectives of Swachh Bharat, Swachh Karnataka and Swachh Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said urban development over several decades had largely relied on grey infrastructure, but the future required a greater emphasis on green growth, circular growth and regenerative growth.
He said protecting water and soil should also be viewed as an economic asset.
“Every rooftop can become a power plant, every drop of water can be reused and every waste stream can be converted into a resource,” Naidu said.
The Earth Centre's sustainability features include rainwater harvesting, climate-responsive design and extensive green areas. Its design team has also incorporated reclaimed and recycled materials.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was promoting Zero Budget Natural Farming in agriculture and argued that a similar sustainability-oriented approach should extend to urban development.
He said Andhra Pradesh would be a key partner in India's national target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030.
The State is planning around 165 GW of renewable energy capacity, he said.
Naidu said Amaravati was being developed as an environment-friendly city by integrating nature, technology and modern infrastructure.
Recalling his role in the development of Cyberabad during the undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said he now had an opportunity to build another major city with a focus on future generations.
He said Amaravati was being planned as a city that integrates environmental considerations with modern infrastructure and technology.
The Earth Centre has been designed as a sustainable workspace with a strong emphasis on biophilic design and environmental performance.
The project features landscaped terraces, terracotta-clad facades and high-performance glazing. Architectural documentation notes that the design uses passive strategies to manage solar gains and improve energy and lighting performance.
The project also incorporates a 900 kW solar-integrated facade, reclaimed terracotta and digital monitoring of sustainability indicators, according to project and design material.
Naidu congratulated Raghuveer Veeramachaneni, Praveen Kumar, the Vista Spaces team and representatives of Venkataramanan Associates for developing the project with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and future needs.
The Chief Minister said the experience demonstrated how modern construction could combine economic development, technology and environmental responsibility.
