A three-day intensive GRIHA training program was organized for Public Work Department, Government of Maharashtra (PWD, GoM) Pune Circle and Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) officers, in collaboration with MEDA and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) from 16th to 18th January, 2017. The prime objective of the program was to give a detailed understanding of the national green building rating system and further enlist and address the anticipated challenges by PWD officers while implementing government projects in line with GRIHA rating system.

The training program was inaugurated by Shri. J.D Kulkarni, Assistant Chief Engineer, Pune Region, PWD and Shri. Hemant Patil, Manager, Energy Conservation Department, MEDA, followed by a presentation on the genesis of GRIHA by Ar. Namrata Mahal, Program Associate, GRIHA Council. Altogether, there were 55 participants from across various wings of PWD including civil, architecture and electrical; representing Pune, Sangli, Solapur and Satara division of PWD.

The program focused on sustainable site planning, water and wastewater management, building design optimization, energy performance optimization, renewable energy utilization, solid waste management, sustainable building material and construction technology, health, wellbeing and environmental quality. The 3-day program was divided into nine sessions including the GRIHA website demonstration, case study presentation and site visit of VVIP Circuit House- a GRIHA rated project. The resource persons for various sessions were Ar. Shaily Mahera, Ar. Rahul Shirkhande, Ar. Namrata Mahal, Ar. Amit Tandon, Er. Jayesh Vira, Mr. Sandeep Sonigra and Ar. Anuja Pandit. Each session was complimented, either with a group or individual exercise such that the concepts get well embedded. Further, the reference material and presentations made during the program were also made available to each participant so as to have better understanding of the rating system.

The program was concluded on a positive note by Shri. Pravin Kide, Chief Engineer, PWD, GoM expressing interest in conducting similar programs across the state, for the remaining circles of the department.