Thiruvananthapuram: The expansion of Technopark in the capital has got a shot in the arm by receiving environmental clearance for the Phase-III campus from State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), paving the way for the development of additional IT infrastructure with a proposed built-up area of 8.19 lakh sqm at an estimated project cost of Rs 1,030 crore. The clearance will enable the construction of more IT buildings in the 94-acre Phase-III campus.Already, new investments proposed and coming up in the Phase-II campus will generate employment for more than 5,000 professionals.The environmental clearance, issued this month, is valid for 10 years and covers an area of 32.49 hectares at Attipra village in Thiruvananthapuram taluk. The approval is subject to compliance with a series of environmental safeguards, including specific measures to mitigate flooding, conserve water, restore vegetation and improve energy efficiency.“With receiving EC, more investments will come up on the Phase-III campus. Some IT development work has already started. This will be a gamechanger for the development of the IOT ecosystem,” a senior Technopark official said.The authority has made rainwater management and flood mitigation key conditions of the approval, given the project’s proximity to Thettiyar River and the area’s natural drainage system. Technopark has been directed to provide a buffer of three to four metres between the river and the project boundary wall and undertake riparian restoration across 0.5 hectares.The project proponent must also cooperate with any govt proposal to widen Thettiyar River, including a downstream culvert that currently has a width of just one metre. A rainwater harvesting plan covering 5.41 acres, with a storage capacity of 26,446 cubic metres, has also been stipulated.The clearance mandates afforestation across one hectare in common areas and another hectare within individual lessees’ plots. A green belt comprising suitable indigenous tree species must be maintained at a minimum rate of one tree for every 80 sqm.Technopark must also ensure that at least 20% of the project’s energy requirements are met through solar power. Common electric vehicle charging facilities, rainwater harvesting systems and measures to maximise the reuse of treated wastewater are among the other conditions.The authority has directed the project proponent to establish an adequate solid waste disposal facility and ensure that sewage is treated before disposal. Treated water must be reused or recycled to the maximum extent possible, while only filtered surface runoff can be discharged into nearby natural drains or public sewer systems.Environmental monitoring will be required during both the construction and operational phases. The clearance will be subject to annual inspections by SEIAA, and half-yearly compliance reports containing environmental monitoring data must be uploaded to the designated portal and the project’s website.The expansion proposal was considered by State Expert Appraisal Committee before SEIAA approved it at its 164th meeting on April 25.Technopark Phase III already houses major IT infrastructure, including the Ganga and Yamuna buildings and the Niagara complex. The campus, spread across 90.02 acres, is part of Technopark’s broader effort to expand office space and accommodate further growth in the IT sector.The environmental clearance applies to the modified master plan submitted by Technopark in Jan.
