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The Hindu : Hollow clay blocks are earthy, season sensible, practical to work with and bring down your construction cost by more than 15 per cent, said architect Krishna Rao Jaisim (of Jaisim Fountainhead and Chairman, Indian Institute of Architects, Karnataka Chapter), special guest at Wienerberger Brick Industry’s official function that announced the launch of its Indian manufacturing plant at Kunigal near Bangalore. “I wish people cleared their mental blocks and gave clay blocks their deserved space in homes,” was Jaisim’s earnest exhort.Wienerberger Brick Industry (a subsidiary of Vienna-based Wienerberger), in its first Asian plant in Karnataka, will have an annual output of one lakh tonnes to begin with and is expected to be operational by the year-end. The company is the world’s largest producer of clay hollow blocks and has the second largest market for clay roof tiles in Europe.The Austrian brick manufacturer’s foray into the Indian market, with an investment of Rs. 90 crore for its 30-acre Kunigal plant, will see the launch of four brands – Porotherm (hollow clay blocks); an exclusive range of Terca facing bricks; and Koramic clay roof tiles and Argeton façade tiles that would be brought over from Wienerberger’s plants in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.Clay days aheadIngo Hofmaier, Managing Director, Commercial, Wienerberger Brick Industry, said, “The demand for eco-friendly building materials is on the rise globally. India, the birthplace of clay brick architecture, still yearns to go back to the clay days. Since we have the technology that would render the material in one of the finest forms to suit contemporary thinking, building with the green substance would lend an up-to-date perspective too.”Rudy van Reeth, Managing Director, Technical, Wienerberger Brick Industry, said, “We are working closely with architects and are keen to introduce the state-of-the-art product in Indian constructions. Our load-bearing clay hollow block forms a new concept which beats the heat due to its high thermal insulation properties.”The…More

The Hindu : Its economy, durability, sturdiness and ease of maintenance has made steel furniture a prime choice both in homes and in business and office establishments. If almirahs were the most popular of steel furniture for a long time, chairs, bookshelves, tables, desks, garden chairs and so on have come to take their place now.These are used widely in different set-ups. From schools to hospitals, steel furniture has made its presence felt in a variety of ways. The flexibility of application offered by steel is one of the key reasons why it is so popular with furniture-makers. Designers like the material for this particular quality.AdvantageIf flexibility is an important factor for designers, the ease with which steel furniture can be maintained is also significant from the practical point of view, says Polly N.V., who runs a small furniture-making unit. He says that if made with the right-gauge steel, the furniture give its money’s worth. Repainting makes steel furniture appear new, a big advantage in places where a large number of furniture pieces are used as in a business establishment or a hospital.Use of paint adds to the aesthetics and appropriate colours can be chosen. With thematic designs gaining precedence of late in interior decoration, the ability of steel to be painted in various colours makes it a preferred material, especially while setting up business environs. Prices of steel furniture have made its use widespread. They are attractive options that offer also economy, says Jaleel P.K., another furniture seller. However, the recent spurt in prices has plunged the steel furniture-making units into trouble, he says. In the past, steel offered an easy and aesthetic option against wood.Even as wood continues to be costly and still remain out of bounds for many, the price of steel furniture too is rising in keeping with the other commodities.The result is that there is slowdown in the demand for steel furniture. The…More

The Hindu : Water QuizIn our quest to underline the importance of saving water for human sustenance and emphasise the advantages of rainwater harvesting and treatment procedures, PropertyPlus has been bringing out a weekly column ‘Waterwise.’ The aim is to create awareness on the reward and compensation that one draws out of prudent water uses.Our ‘Water Quiz’ will be yet another attempt to inform and educate you on the facts and data related to water. We do hope our efforts help in increasing your general knowledge which would also help you realise the overriding significance the subject draws in the presentscenario, where increased population and buildings throw additional demands on saving the ‘elixir of life.’Additionally, several right answers in our questions that require detailed explanations would be elucidated by our columnist, S. Vishwanath, for giving you a better perspective of the subject and making you understand the core issues involved.Happy quizzing!1) In an average year how much rain does Bangalore receive, approximately?a) 200 mm.b) 600 mm.c) 900 mm.2) This means that a 30 x 50 feet site in a year receives:a) 10,000 litres of rainwater.b) 40,000 litres of rainwater.c) 1,35,000 litres of rainwater.3) The water tariff for industries in Bangalore is the highest in India. It is:a) Rs. 100 a kilo-litre.b) Rs 60 a kilo-litre.c) Rs 10 a kilo-litre.4) A kilo-litre isa) 100 litres of water.b) 1 million litres of water.c) 1,000 litres of water.5) Rajasthan has the largest drought-prone area in India. The second largest is:a) Tamil Nadu.b) Gujarat.c) Karnataka.6) Most villages in Karnataka depend on groundwater. The extent of dependence is close toa) 52 %b) 75%c) 92%7) A fast dripping tap leaks how many litres in a day?5 litres10 litres80 litresANSWERS:1-c; 2-c; 3-b; 4-c; 5-c; 6-c;7-c(Compiled by S. Vishwanath,www.rainwaterclub.org;www.arghyam.org;www.indiawaterportal.org;www.ircsa.org;www.voicesfromthewaters.com)…More

The Hindu : While in the countryside rain is a joyful event, in a city it is met with grumbles because it disrupts plans for an evening out or causes floods on the streets or causes power breakdowns. Interestingly, city centres and slightly downwind areas receive up to 15 per cent more rain than the suburbs. It rains more in the city because of the heat island effect — the concrete and asphalt capturing and radiating heat. The intensity of the rainfall also seems to be more in the city.All the more reason for us to be prepared and to take steps to convert what we perceive to be a nuisance into a resource. The first step is to calculate the rain that falls and the number of rainy days. A rainy day or a wet day is when it rains more than 2.50 mm. This information is available on the India Meteorological Department website and Indiawater.org portal.The next step is to calculate or find out your plot area and roof area. The next step is to find out the monthly average rainfall. Finally make the choice of filtering rainwater from the rooftop and storing it in a sump. A sump of 6,000 litres is ideal for a 100 square metre roof area but even 2,000 litres of storage will do. Pick the overflow and lead it into a recharge well. Do the same with the plot runoff. A recharge well is typically three ft. in diameter and about 20 ft. deep.Being water wise is to understand that rain in a city is a blessing to be carefully stored.It does not matter how much it rains, it matters more what we do with the rain….More

The Hindu : Changing addresses is not so much of a hassle as transferring your paraphernalia when you shift to a new place of residence, especially if it is some distance away. The longer the distance, the more meticulous you need to be in packing your household wares.So, when frequent packing and moving, especially to distant destinations, becomes a headache, think of Ollur, a hamlet in Thrissur. The people here have been trying to make your life easy. They have a history of expertise in making wooden packing cases, a tradition of 200 years. The cases are vital in ensuring the safe transport of your goods.In and around Ollur, there are 250 units which make wooden packing boxes which reach all parts of the country. History indicates that during the British rule in India, sleepers and wooden platforms for railways had been made in Ollur. During World War II, packing cases were built in Ollur for military purposes. Gradually, the business grew and now the wooden packing cases not only reach all parts of India but are also exported.The processRubber wood is used for making the boxes. The wood is cut into planks in the required thickness and size, as per the order. They are nailed later.These boxes are used for packing alcohol, fruits, vegetables, heavy machine parts and so on. Some 20,000 people earn their livelihood from this business. Prices are fixed according to the size of the boxes. If you are living in a bungalow, then, a big container will be most suitable. If you are living in a flat or have a small house, then containers of multiple sizes are needed.“We cut the wood to size and make the boxes and then despatch them. The assembling is done at the place where the packing is done,” says P. Sidhardhan, a worker. Thirty people work at the centre where he is employed.TurnoverThe monthly turnover of the…More

The Hindu : A dose of shepherd philosophy from As You Like It is that “the property of rain is to wet and fire to burn.” The Bard would add, “Good pasture makes fat sheep, and… a great cause of the night is lack of the sun.”But this story is about a different rain that wets property, as much as it burns. Not the acid variety that contains pollutants but the ‘apartment’ variety from balconies, with enough firepower to spark off heat among residents, as I came to learn from my good friend Das.“What’s that brown spot on your white shirt, paan?” I asked him at the canteen, a few days ago. “Not paan, yaar, but shaitaan,” he grumbled. “Lives right on top of my head!” he added, and I looked up and wondered if he was referring to the boss. “Not here,” Das hastened to clarify. “In my apartment block. I felt a drop falling on me as I was leaving for the office this morning,” he explained.“Perhaps a drizzle,” I suggested. Das shook his head, “No, don’t you see that it is sunny after many days. And this mess is from what my not-so-friendly neighbour dries in the balcony!”I jested, “There’s some wonder in that handkerchief!” Das fumed, “Don’t waste on me a Desdemona line from Othello, though mine is a tragedy too, with droplets falling from a dirty mop, not a lover’s hanky!” It was appropriate that I sympathised, so I said, “Alas, your expensive new shirt! Try a non-acidic stain remover.”After inspecting the damage, I said, “If the mop had wiped off some potent floor cleaner, expect to see a hole soon where the stain now shows.” The last thing that Das wanted was my grim forecast, so he left in a huff.Ever since, I have been looking around if Das’s plight is an exception rather than a rule. I have always believed that…More

The Hindu : This tiny herb is an universal favourite, be it as an ingredient of cuisine or medicine. Incidentally, India is a leading producer of the plant and its products. Pudina has myriad uses and can be effective as an expectorant, a digestive stimulant, against asthma, tonsillitis, and joint pains too.Pudina leaves also can cool the body besides serving as a mouth freshener, so it makes sense to add a sprig of pudina leaves or pudina extracts to drinking water or fruit juices, besides incorporating fresh pudina leavesto make tasty chutneys during this blazing summer.Adequate drainageFresh pudina or mint plants can be grown easily at home, even from a pot placed on the window sill. The plant grows well in a mixture of one part sand, one part red earth and one part manure, but make sure that the drainage is adequate.A litre of water everyday will suffice, and the plant needs exposure to bright sunlight for at least six hours every day to reach its maximum potency. You can raise pudina plants from seedlings or from the mint sprigs sold by your local vegetable vendor. They take root easily. Grow a few seedlings in each pot, and branches with leaves may be harvested as and when required. Pudina plants have a lifespan of about three to four years.HEMA VIJAY…More

The Hindu : Royal in their features, teak and rose wood may be the king and queen of the wooden world, but the prince is now crying for attention…It’s rubber wood, making its presence felt because of its nature, personality and temperament.Apart from the hard fact about the non-affordability of teak, one cannot dismiss the rubber wood campaigners highlighting the advantages of the wonder tree, untapped for commercial use until a decade ago.According to Anil R. Pillai of Rubberwood India, Kottayam (undertaking of the Rubber Board, Ministry of Commerce, branded as Indiawood), this wood has come into focus only since a decade and Rubberwood India has been actively promoting doors in India. People also took time to accept rubber wood for furniture; it’s a mental block that the tree is used for extraction of rubber alone. Of course the concept of tapping the tree for purposes other than resin withdrawal was an amazing entrepreneurial move.Educating people on the tree and its value additions will increase the respect for the movement, feels Pillai. Now there is a steady increase in awareness, acceptability and sale of rubber wood. Technological leaps in the chemical treatment for keeping termites and borers at bay were relatively recent steps that helped the tree gain international acceptance for home use.Lifetime guaranteeAfter the extraction of rubber, the tree is uprooted and is treated for a year before it is given a lifetime guarantee tag at Rubberwood India in Kottayam where their boards are machined to bring in 8 x 4 ft. panels of various thickness suited for entrances, modular kitchens or furniture.Rubber wood can be tapped for any kind of furniture making as it has three coats of polyurethane that makes it scratch-proof too.The boards are machined to bring in 8 x 4 ft. panels of various thickness with several coats of polyurethane.Rubber tree, a native of Brazil, is now grown in 10 million hectares in…More

The Hindu : A few banks have suddenly come up with either revised or fresh schemes after the 2008-09 Union Budget, which exempted the loan amounts obtained under reverse mortgage from payment of income tax and capital gains tax. Let us have a look at the origin of the reverse mortgage scheme and its present position.Senior citizens are likely to become an important section of the population acquiring houses in the days to come, if not already so, for reasons of security and stability.This fresh demand has its germination in the 2007-08 budget proposals presented by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and approved by Parliament.Loan facilityAs per the statement of the Finance Minister, reverse mortgage was intended to provide a loan from any commercial bank against property to meet the monthly running expenses of senior citizens.The term denotes the facility of receiving periodical payments from the lender against a limit fixed against the security of house owned by the borrower and living therein, instead of the person taking a loanand paying back the debt (EMI).The National Housing Bank was entrusted with the task of formulating the scheme which was put in place subsequently.Age factorThe salient features of the scheme are:• Those above 60 years of age eligible to obtain the loan. Joint loans are also allowed wherein one applicant should be above 60 years.• The applicant should own a house which should be occupied by him or her.• The loan will be released in monthly instalments. Lump sums may also be released from the loan sanctioned to meet expenses for medical treatment, the amount being directly paid to the hospital where treatment is taken. Lump sum release is also permitted for home improvement.• The loan should not exceed 60 per cent of the value of the house.• The loan need not be repaid. The bank may recover the dues either after the death of the borrower or when the…More

The Hindu : Home is still a distant dreamThe steep rise in the prices of construction materials has hit the construction activity in Bangalore, saysA. B. SUDHINDRANagesh H.V., an engineer by profession, is a worried man these days. His dreams are going awry. He started building his “dream home” a few months ago and he surely is learning a few hard lessons, which he says is affecting his health. He says his budget has overrun by 50 per cent due to the rise in the prices of construction materials.Now, he is looking for ways to generate funds to bear the additional burden. “As the days pass by, my dream will become costlier. Once you start the process, it is difficult to give up midway. It is like being neither here nor there. Somehow, I have to arrange for finances,” says Nagesh.No cheerMany in Bangalore are in such a plight. Although this man is aware of the measures taken by the authorities to keep the soaring prices in check, they have not brought a huge cheer to him.Not only Nagesh but the entire construction industry in Bangalore is trying to deconstruct the present scenario. No doubt the measures taken by the Centre have brought down the prices of cement as well as steel.The price of steel, which was at Rs.52,000 per tonne, has come down to Rs.42,000 and is expected to go down by another Rs.2,000.The price of cement is hovering between Rs. 240 and Rs. 260 per bag. However, the industry is not ready to take a guess on how long this happy trend will continue.Many in the industry wish that the prices of steel and cement would go down further but they hasten to add that the price of sand and size-stone is still high. A lorry load of river sand costs around Rs.14,000 and size-stone (8”), Rs.16.SlowdownThe steep rise in the prices of construction materials has…More