Promotion of Cost Efficient and Environment Friendly Construction Techniques by TARA Nirman Kendra

Our country today has approximately 31 million Indian households living in utterly squalid housing conditions. Pesent day construction technologies are quite expensive and often out of reach of the common man.

There is clearly a need to develop and promote appropriate (in terms of materials, methods and costs) construction technologies and techniques. TARA Nirman Kendras (TNKs) building centres of the Development Alternatives Group, are set up with the primary mandate of promoting such alternatives and ensuring transfer of these technologies from “lab to land”.

The three TNKs in Delhi, Orchha and Bangalore operate within their geographical regions of influence. This region for each Building Centre is an area of direct operation, the greater outreach is realised through partnership with other building Centres and institutions and links with the provate sector.

In order to reach to the the common masses with cost effective technologies, we need to promote these through a wide variety of channels. Hence it becomes imperative to locate the existing channels through which to move the technologies as well as explore new delivery systems.

TNKs have undertaken a variety of promotional campaigns to disseminate know-how and create awareness amongst the public. TNKs regularly participate in construction related exhibitions all over the country, the most prominent one being the annual BUILDTECH exhibition at Pragati Maidan, where TNK, Delhi has a prominent presence. The dissemination efforts are further expanded through our links with professionals (architects, engineers consultants, corporate, institutions and other practitioners) in the construction industry.

Institutional Building by TNK, Bangalore
Marketing Centre for ARTRAP, Jogaradoddi
Plinth Area	2746 sq. ft.	Materials & Technologies
Project cost (Rs.)	2,94,580.00	Stone Composite Masonry
Cost per sq. ft. (Rs.)	107.00	SEB Arched Openings
Date of Completion	10th June 92	RCC Filler Slab

Rural Development Self Employment Training Institute, Dharmasthala
Plinth Area	8210 sq.ft.	Materials & Technologies
Project Cost (Rs.)	26,25,000.00	Size Stone Masonry for Foundations RCC Band in Plinth, RCC Filler
Date of Completion	31 Jan 1997	Blue Tandoor & Red Oxide Flooring RCC Door Frame with Honne Wood Shutter

Training Centre at RUWSETI Harohalli
Plinth Area	1698 sq. ft.	Materials and Technologies
Project Cost (Rs)	2,39,200.00	Stone Composite Masonry
Cost Per sq. ft. (Rs)	140.00	SCEB Arched Openings
Date of Completion	October 1991	RCC Filter Slab, Steel Doors & Windows

Construction of Earthquake Resistant Houses at Latur, Maharashtra
No. of Houses	336	Materials and Technologies
Cost of Each House (Rs)	73,000	Concrete Block Walls, Filler Slab
Area of Each House	330 sq.ft.	Roofs, Internal and External Plaster, s
Cost per sq. ft. (Rs)	221	Steel Doors and Window
Total Project Cost (Rs) (including services)	3,77,51,000	Cement Concrete Flooring

Inspired by the Kerala State Nirmithi (KESNIK) activities we have launched the CEEF (cost effective and environment friendly) forum under which it is proposed to regularly organize effective awareness events like technology demonstration, workshops, seminars, discussions etc. To begin with, the meetings will be held in Delhi but will over a period of time , slowly move to other regions. Under this forum we would also try and reach out to students so that the ideas of CEEF are sown early.

While TNKs regularly publish articles and information brochures that provide information about our activities, TNKs have also built, and are in the process of executing demonstration structures all over the country. These structures, both within and outside the TNK premises, demonstrate that an affordable quality dwelling unit is not beyond the modest means of a common man. TNKs do not always promote entirely new building technologies, but show a way as to how an efficient mix and match of already available materials and technologies can create building products and construction techniques that result in strong desirable buildings at affordable costs.

Seeing is believing. We therefore welcome visitors to our Building Centres. Professionals in the construction industry can actually see the use of our technologies which removes doubts from their minds and convinces them of the potential of these technologies. Our visitors are from a diverse backgrounds - ranging from students of architecture, engineering and various other fields, professionals in the construction industry, personnel from the armed forces, diplomats, government and semi-government officials, representatives of NGOs or entrepreneurs and most importantly the common man who wants a roof over his head without having to pay through his nose for it. Every person who visits our Building Centers leaves with a new insight into construction techniques.

TNKs undertake training courses in the production and use of approriate building elements and improved construction techniques “on site” or at their respective premises in Delhi Orchha and Bangalore. These training programmes are open to everybody- professionals, students, masons etc. There is no doubt that these training programmes are of utmost importance for the successful application and dissemination cost effective building technologies.

Each TNK works in partnership with NGOs and institutions in its regions. The programme for Selection and Upgradation of Technologies for Rural Areas (SUTRA) is specifically designed to enable the TNKs to reach out to and provide service to our grassroots partners in far-flung areas of the country. Under this programme, TNKs provide region and partner specific consultancy for improving shelter quality in rural areas and transfer technical know-how to grassroots organisations through training and networking with other building Centres and technical institutions. q