Question : CONSTRUCTION OF LOW COST HOUSES

(a) whether the Government has received suggestions about the construction of low cost houses by using the right material;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA )
(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): Proposals for some of the materials/technologies are as under:

# Cellular Light Weight Concrete
# Hollow/Solid Cement Concrete Blocks using Fly Ash
# Filler Slab for Roofing
# Micro Concrete Roofing Tiles
# Precast Roofing Components such as RCC Plank and Joists
# Ferrocement Elements for Walling and roofing
# Building Panel System using Phosphogypsum (an industrial waste from fertiliser industry Australian technology)

(c): Several initiatives have been taken to promote low cost housing in the country. Some of the major initiatives to popularise and promote low cost housing are given below:

# In the financial year 2004-05, construction of model demonstration houses using low cost housing techniques has been initiated in 11 States of the country through Building Materials And Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC).

# Building Materials And Technology Promotion Council has already constructed 252 such houses under the scheme at Bangalore using cost-effective material/technologies like solid concrete blocks for walling, filler slab for roofing, RCC doors and window frames, coir composite doors, etc.

# Incorporation of low Cost building materials/technologies into the specifications of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and State housing and building agencies and preparation of standards by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to cover cost effective materials and construction technologies.

# Strengthening arrangements for large scale field applications of cost effective technologies and commercialising production of innovative low cost materials and components through Building Centres at grass-root level and the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council at national and regional level.

# Providing fiscal incentive (excise and custom duty concessions) for production of cost-effective building materials and import of critical machinery and equipments particularly based on industrial wastes like flyash, phospho-gypsum and red-mud, cellular light weight concrete.

# Development and promotion of a number of technologies for low cost housing. A number of machines for production of cost effective prefab building components for low cost housing have been developed. So far more than 1000 of these machines are operating in different parts of the country.

# For promoting use of Fly Ash bricks, tiles and blocks, among the builders and construction agencies, advertisements have also been given in national dailies.