downtoearth-subscribe

Mud is a cost effective biulding material

Mud is a cost effective biulding material THERE is a resurgence of interest among urban builders in mud, the traditional construction material of rural India, and many government housing schemes are adopting itMud's low cost and easy availablity, compared with conventional building material, make it a viable construction option for the poor. Other appreciate its malliability, good insultation and low maintenance cost.

The Centre for the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA) has been working on mud building technology for nearly two decades. It has developed unique mud blocks stabilised with cement and an advanced block making machine, Itge Voth, which can be easily mastered even by unskilled workers. Blocks are moulded using a mixture of soil, cement and water. A stabilised mud block costs Rs 1.65-1.95 and the machine can bring out one lakh blocks before it needs to be refitted. Architects Revati and Vasant Kamath in New Delhi have been on the forefront in efforts to adapt mud for construction. They have developed a technology whereby strong mud blocks are made without mixing additives. The Auroville Building Centre is also actively propagating mud housing. To get in touch...

Shrashtant Patara
Development Alternatives (DA)
B-32, Institutional Area
TARA Crescent, New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi 110016
Ph: 665370, 657938

K Jagdish
Centre for the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore

Auroville Building Centre
Auroshilpam
Auroville
Tamil Nadu

Revati and Vasant Kamath
40, Shahpur Jhat
Asiad Village,
Khel Gaon Road
New Delhi Ph:6472915

Ajay Mehta
Sewa Mandir
Old Fatehpur Chowk
Udaipur, Rajasthan

P K Samantaroy
Diocese of Cuttack
Church of North India Bishop's House, Mission Road
Cuttack 753001

Devender Sharma
Sadhna Kutir
Ajitmal
Dist Etawah
Uttar Pradesh

G Padmaja
ASSIST
G T Road
Chilakaluripet
Dist Guntur
Andhra Pradesh - 522616

Nilesh Bhavsar
Antodya Gruh Mirman Yojna
Udyogvadi,
Volod
Dist Surat
Gujarat

Centre for Science in Villages
Magansangrahalaya
Maganwadi
Wardha
Maharashtra