Kolkata: In the realm of vertical living, two housing communities—Loudon Park in the heart of the city and Sodepur Godrej Prakriti on the northern fringes—stand as testaments to sustainable urban living. Though starkly different in size and setting, their commitment to eco-friendly practices and climate-conscious living unites them in the battle against pollution and environmental degradation.
Nestled in one of Kolkata’s poshest neighbourhoods, Loudon Park, with its 28 apartments, is a boutique residential enclave that was home to its residents for over two decades. Despite its compact size and age, the community was a pioneer in adopting sustainable practices. The residents minimised water wastage through advanced sensor systems installed on overhead and underground tanks. They are also nurturing trees, which are over 50 years old, one of them a termite-infected banyan tree, which they saved with help from experts at Botanic Garden. “Within two months of medication, the tree came back to life in full throttle. Saving it was a testament to our commitment to sustainability,” said Rakesh Bhatia, chairman of Loudon Park Resident Welfare Association (RWA).
The community also initiated energy-saving measures, such as switching off one-third the number of common LED lights through a single switch at 11 pm every night and exploring rooftop solar energy.
In sharp contrast, Sodepur Godrej Prakriti sprawls across 23.5 acres, housing a vibrant and rapidly growing community. Its RWA, formed merely six months ago, has transformed the campus into a model of sustainable living. It’s a zero-water-waste campus, where treated sewage water is reused for landscaping, flushing and car washing. The community plants 700 saplings every year, ensuring their lush surroundings remain vibrant and biodiverse. “We compost our kitchen waste on the site, discarding only dry waste for landfills. Our aim is to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle and retrieve reusable materials from waste to avoid adding to landfills altogether,” said Avik Sengupta, president of Prakriti’s RWA.
Four water bodies on the campus are home to diverse biodiversity and are maintained with sustainable pisciculture practices to prevent mosquito breeding. Prakriti also reduced groundwater use by utilising surface water supplied through the Ganga Action Plan from the Panihati Municipality.
Both the residential complexes are making strides in reducing their carbon footprint through innovative energy solutions. While Loudon Park is exploring rooftop solar energy to power its common areas, Prakriti has already established solar units. A K Bhattacharya, secretary of Prakriti RWA, said, “Our rooftop and open-area solar units take care of a substantial portion of the common area power requirements.”
Both the complexes share a common vision, that of living harmoniously with nature. Residents on the two campuses are dedicated to fostering biodiversity, reducing waste and adopting sustainable practices to lower their carbon footprints. Jeet Bathija, a Loudon Park resident, said, “We’re increasingly understanding the importance of making our lives greener and living in harmony with the ecosystem.”
