IGBC’s Northeast Chapter spearheads green building adoption across Assam and Northeast India, forging strategic collaborations with Assam's government on incentive policies like FAR benefits (3 percent for Silver, 6 percent for Gold, 9 percent for Platinum IGBC ratings) to mainstream sustainable urban development. The chapter drives policy advocacy, advances IGBC certification frameworks, and leads capacity-building programs that catalyze market transformation for climate-resilient infrastructure and green materials.

The CII Indian Green Building Council (CII IGBC) successfully hosted the 2nd Green Assam Conclave 2026 in Guwahati. This flagship regional platform of the IGBC Northeast Chapter convened senior policymakers, urban development authorities, developers, architects, manufacturers, and sustainability leaders to accelerate green infrastructure adoption in Assam and the Northeast region.        

The Green Assam Conclave centered on leveraging Assam’s newly announced green building incentive policy to drive climate-resilient urban development. Participants deliberated how policy mechanisms, including additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) benefits—3 percent for IGBC Silver, 6 percent for Gold, and 9 percent for Platinum certifications—aligned with IGBC frameworks to boost demand for certified green materials, optimize project costs, and foster scalable sustainable practices.

The inaugural was graced by Dr Jeevan B, IAS, Secretary, Dept of Housing and Urban Affairs, Dept of Innovation, Incubation & Start-Ups, Government of Assam, along with Abhijit Barooah, Past Chairman, CII North East Council, Managing Director, Premier Cryogenics Ltd; J N Khataniar, Chairman, IGBC Northeast Chapter, Chief Consultant Engineer, SRISHTIE; Saurav Pansari, Co-Chairman, IGBC Northeast Chapter, CEO, Royal Awas; Shanta Sharma, Director, CII; Sidhesh Kr Mishra, Dy Director, Indian Green Building Council; and Saurav Choudhury, Counsellor, Indian Green Building Council.

During the inaugural session, Khataniar delivered the welcome address, setting a forward-looking tone for green adoption in Assam. He said, “IGBC’s Northeast Chapter strategically partnered with Assam’s Government on FAR incentives, making IGBC-rated green buildings a profitable standard for urban growth. Our focused training and certification efforts drove large-scale market changes, establishing Northeast India as a leader in India’s Net Zero by 2070 goal.”

Dr Jeevan underscored governmental commitment to sustainable infrastructure. He stated, “Assam stood at a pivotal juncture in its development trajectory, and the Green Assam Conclave 2026 exemplified how strategic green building incentives catalyzed climate-resilient urban growth. Our FAR policy provisions—offering 3 percent for Silver, 6 percent for Gold, and 9 percent for Platinum IGBC ratings—unlocked tangible pathways for urban infrastructure that balanced economic viability with environmental stewardship. Events like this strengthened public-private synergies, positioning Assam as a frontrunner in sustainable, climate-resilient development across Northeast India. The alignment of FAR benefits with IGBC certification frameworks not only incentivized developers but also fortified our State’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and Net Zero ambitions. IGBC’s Northeast Chapter played an instrumental role in bridging policy with practice, empowering Assam to lead India’s green building revolution.”

In Assam and the broader Northeast India, IGBC established a dedicated Northeast Chapter to drive regional green building initiatives, registering over 18,850 projects nationwide covering 15+ billion sq ft of green footprint in India. The chapter collaborated closely with State Governments on policy advocacy, including Assam’s FAR incentives for IGBC-certified buildings, and organized capacity-building events like IGBC Northeast Connect to promote certification, green materials, and climate-resilient development. These efforts positioned the Northeast as a hub for scalable green projects aligned with India’s Net Zero goals.

A high-impact panel discussion titled ‘Policy to Profitability: Mainstreaming Sustainable Climate-Resilient Development in Assam’ explored on-ground implementation of FAR incentives and ecosystem coordination among stakeholders. Moderated by Pansari, the session included insights from Hrishiraj Sarma, Town Planner, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA); Dr Jaideep Baruah, Director of Assam Science Technology & Environment Council (ASTEC); Pranab Kumar Sharma, President of Assam Real Estate Infra Developers Association; and leading architects and developers such as Amitabh Sarma, Shruti Khaitan, Abhimanyu Khetawat, Ragini Goswami, and Piyush Jalan.

The technical session, moderated by Sidhesh Kr Mishra, Deputy Director, IGBC, showcased innovative sustainable solutions tailored for the region. Presentations covered emulating Bhutan’s sustainable infrastructure models by Rikesh Gurung, Director, Green Bhutan Corp Ltd; efficient glazing for green buildings by Gopinath Udayakumar, Sustainability Manager, Saint-Gobain India; eco-friendly building materials by David Gogoi, Co-founder and CEO, Zerund Bricks; and green faster construction materials by Sanjay Pathak, Business Development, ASHTECH. The event concluded with networking lunch, fostering collaborations for green growth.

The Green Assam Conclave 2026 reinforced Assam’s leadership in India’s green building movement, aligning with national goals like Net Zero by 2070 and positioning the Northeast as a hub for climate-resilient development. Supported by associations like Builders’ Association of India (BAI) and Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Assam Chapter, the conclave highlighted the commercial viability of green practices through policy incentives and market readiness.

For more information: www.cii.in