1.Is that true?
2.If yes, are further plans made to impliment this technology?
Kushagra Jain
Via email
Dear Kushagra,
I am being very happy that you are reading the newspaper so carefully and also writing to
me with your queries.
oops! This is what we
have now for B'fast, lunch and dinner...
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Although some termites, like the subterranean or Formosan termite (Genus:
Reticulitermes) are capable of chewing through plastics, but it's usually just to get
access to a more suitable food source. The termites are not able to utilize this plastic
for nutrition.
I think they are unlikely to used as a technology option because as a category of
animals they have clearly evolved to feed on wooden materials and when let loose would
very likely prefer those over plastics. Hence there needs to be more research done in this
field before commercial application of this study is done.
Namaste Panditji,
I read with interest March 15 GT issue on mud architecture.
I would like to know about various individuals/agencies who could assist with a
demonstrative housing program at our ecological agriculture project in Madhya Pradesh.
Lalit Gambhir
Haryana
Dear
Lalitji,
I feel good that you people are reading Gobar Times seriously and also asking questions.
The following organisations are working on mud as a building material. You can get in
touch with them and they can guide you further on this:
Development Alternatives has its office building made of mud. You can contact them at:
Development Alternatives
B-32, Tara Crescent,
Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi - 100 016
Ph: 6851158, 6967938
E-mail: tara@sdalt.ernet.in
Web: http://www.devalt.org
| Another organisation working with mud as a
building material is ASTRA, you can contact them at: Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas,
IISc Campus,
Bangalore - 560 012,
Ph: (080) 309 2762
Web:http://www.iisc.ernet.in/depts/astra |
|
Auroville is also working towards making mud as an
alternative building material. They have a seperate building centre for research. You can
contact them at: Auroville Building Centre
Auroshilpam,
Auroville - 605101,
Tamil Nadu
Ph: (0413) 622168
www.auroville.org/research/csr |
There are also few architects who speacialise in mud
architecture. You can get in touch with:
Chitra Viswanath
264, 6th Main, 6th Block,
BEL Layout,Vidyaranyapura,
Bangalore-560 097
Ph: (080) 3641690
E-mail: chitravishwanath@vsnl.com |
Among the government organisations you can contact:
HUDCO - Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.
Hudco Bhawan,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodhi Road
New Delhi - 110 003
Ph: 24648193 |
And last but not the least the man who has done
pioneering work in mud architecture Laurie Baker. You can get in touch with the centre at:
Laurie Baker
Building Centre,
Sector-6,
R K Puram,
New Delhi-110 022
Tel: 6188601 |
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