Panaji, Oct 5 (PTI) The Goa government announced Friday that all future projects to be approved under its land use plan or under conversion of zones rules will get the nod only if they are "green buildings".

Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told a gathering of professionals organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries and Indian Green Building Council that the state would be the first in the country to make such a provision.

Instructing the Town and Country Planning officials not to allow any project which does not adhere to the "green code", the minister said from today all future projects under the Regional Plan has to follow environmental ("green") norms.

The "Green Code", however, will not be applicable for individual houses, he said.

"We will be the first state in the country which will make green buildings not only fashionable but compulsory. If you want to take forward this green movement, you have to make it compulsory," he said.

"We will not even allow the building for Mopa airport to come up if it does not adhere to green building code," he said.

The government will consult the Indian Green Building Council and Tata Engineering Research Institute to finalise the green code, he said.

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