By adopting the available low cost housing systems it is quite possible to reduce 40 per cent of the construction costs over the conventional housing system, says Kantharaju, Director, Centre for Habitat Technologies (CHT). CHT is a consulting centre for cost effective housing and is situated in Basaveswaranagar. So far, CHT has counselled about 2,000 clients to go for modern, durable and qualitative low cost housing systems. Speaking to bangalorebest.com, Mr Kantharaju said that the technology involved in low cost housing system is very much available in Bangalore.

Low cost housing is still a new concept in India. However the state governments and the Union Government (through HUDCO) promote and propagate the idea of low cost housing. Apart from the Government, there are a few private organisations in the country, which are involved in low cost housing. Centre for Habitat Technologies is one such private consultancy agency, which promotes and propagates the idea of low cost housing in the country. CHT charges nominal fees for its consultancy services.

The main concept of low cost housing is economy, efficiency and environment friendliness in addition to reducing the cost compared to conventional construction method, says Kantharaju. He is a retired engineer from the (Lab to Land Technology Programme) Karnataka Ministry of Housing Department. With his previous experience, Kantharaju started the CHT six months ago. CHT acts as a link between the end user and the low cost housing technology sources. CHT introduces and explains to its clients about the latest technologies in low cost housing and then takes them to its earlier clients who own houses built by adopting low cost housing technology methods. "We have to do a lot of confidence building counseling to our new clients. They get confidence when they see the low cost houses and interact with the house owners", Kantharaju added.

At least 10 people approach CHT everyday to enquire about the low cost housing, Kantharaju says. "We provide all package services from conceptualisation to the realisation of our client's dream home in low cost system," he adds. Different technologies of low cost housing are proved safe and durable worldwide, he said.

According to him, Kerala has maximum number of houses built by adopting low cost housing systems. Since 30 years, this low cost housing is slowly gaining momentum in India. CHT has rapport with organisations like Central Building Research Institute, Indian Institute of Science, HUDCO, Application of Science and Technology in Rural Areas (ASTRA), who promote the low cost housing technologies.

CHT is going to exhibit the infrastructure and materials used in low cost housing, soon for the benefit of its clients. Presently pre-cast doors and doorframes are exhibited at the CHT office. The doors made up of Fibreglass Reinforced Polyester (FRP) material, are light, strong and eco-friendly.

Pre-cast concrete doorframes, doors, windows and roofing blocks are used in the construction of low cost houses. According to the Project Engineer, CHT, Prakash, under the Jack Arch Roofing System, pre-cast arch panels, pre-cast clay blocks and pre-cast beams are used. Filler Slab Roofing System is another system of low cost roofing in which pre-cast clay blocks are used. adopting Filler Slab Roofing method which can save lot of concrete, says Prakash. He demonstrates and explains to the clients about the low cost housing systems on the site. Following are some features of low cost houses.

They may be contacted at:
Centre for Habitat Technologies,
#246, 7th 'B' Main, III Stage, IV Block,
Basaveswaranagar,
Bangalore-560 079.
E-mail: c_ht_lowcosthousing@hotmail.com

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