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The Hindu : Light and strong, functional and beautiful, bamboo is emerging as a wonder material in architecture and interior design. Across the world from Europe to America and Asia, bamboo is poised to make a comeback, riding high on the surging popularity of sustainable architecture.Designers everywhere are finding new uses for the graceful plant with a long stem and thin leaves. Exceedingly strong for its weight, it can be used both as a structural element and as a decorative material.Emerging uses include flooring and construction of temporary, environment-friendly structures such as pagodas and cottages.“Bamboo is a good construction material, structurally comparable with modern building materials,” says Daniel Borg from the U.K., a sculptor interested in natural building techniques. Mr. Borg, who is currently involved in a research project with the Habitat Technology Group, is delving into the traditional methods of construction using bamboo.Major challengeA completed pagoda blends well with nature.“Joinery is a major challenge in building with bamboo. With the right kind of joinery for load support, bamboo can be used to build any kind of structure,” he says.To prove his point, Mr. Borg came up with a four-metre-high pagoda built entirely of bamboo and coir rope.Using local labour, the structure was erected on the premises of the VJT Hall in Thiruvananthapuram during a lifestyle expo recently organised by the Centre for Cane and Bamboo, a city-based research and advocacy agency.The hexagonal structure, built in two tiers, uses small pieces of bamboo to hold the crossbeams in place.To prevent slipping, the rope is threaded through holes in the joineries and at the end of the pillars and crossbeams. The nails are also made of bamboo.Informative“The traditional methods of building with bamboo are informative. During my research into the subject, I found that pegs and ropes were commonly used in Southeast Asia for bamboo structures. The hexagonal design was adopted for its inherent strength.”The entire pagoda was designed…More

The Hindu : Around 66 million people inhabit areas in India which are susceptible to excess fluoride in groundwater. Since groundwater is the predominant source of drinking water, this poses a problem. When the deep tubewells, or borewells as we know them, came to India, they were a matter of preferred choice because unlike surface water bodies, deep groundwater was supposed to be pure. However, as time has chugged along, partly due to human reasons and partly due to natural reasons, groundwater too is showing high levels of quality problems.These arise from five major reasons: excess salinity or salt in groundwater, excess iron, excess nitrates, excess arsenic and excess fluoride. In the case of fluoride the maximum permissible limit for it in water is 1.50 mg/litre. However, in many habitations, this limit has been crossed and in some places fluoride well above 10 mg/litre is also reported.Since fluoride cannot be seen or smelt and indeed sometimes the water can be sparkling it requires a detailed analysis to detect its presence and measure its quantity in drinking water.Too much too badA little bit of fluoride is actually beneficial for teeth and bones. Only when it exceeds limits does it become a problem, causing dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis. Body pain and ache is reported and the pain in the joints can be excruciating.A project run by the Government of Karnataka called Sachetana seeks to harvest rooftop rainwater and provide this to families as fluoride-free water. Approximately 20 litres per family per day is required for drinking and cooking purposes. In a year this translates to 7,300 litres of water.A roof area of 30 square metres and a climatic zone with 300 mm of rain has 9,000 litres of rainwater falling on the roof. If this water can be collected, filtered in a good sand filter and stored in either an underground or overground tank it can be kept for…More

The Hindu : Lease, rental, leave and licenceR. BALAJIA tenant who breaks a lease without a good cause will be responsible for the remainder of the rent due under the lease termThe lease or rental agreement of any residential or commercial building is the key document of tenancy which outlines important issues of occupancy such as the length of tenancy, amount of rent and deposits the tenant must pay, responsibility towards payment of utilities, whether the tenant may sub-let the property, the landlord’s access to the property and the fixtures which the tenant may have right to alter etc.Very often the terms are misunderstood. An agreement must necessarily be in written, as oral agreements may often result in a dispute.Rental and lease agreement – the differenceThe biggest difference between a rental and a lease agreement is the period of occupancy.A written rental agreement is usually for a very short duration, and is automatically renewed after the end of the period, unless the landlord or the tenant ends it by giving a written notice, typically within a period of 30-60 days.For the month-to-month rentals (i.e. if the rent is being paid monthly) the landlord can change the terms of the agreement through a proper written notice, subject to any rent control laws.A written lease agreement, on the other hand, gives the right to occupy a rental unit for a set term, if the tenant pays the rent and complies with other lease provisions.Unlike a rental agreement, a lease agreement does not get automatically renewed when the lease period expires. Also, during the fixed term of the lease, the landlord cannot increase the rent or change other terms agreed upon in the lease, unless the changes are specifically provided for in the lease, or if the tenant agrees.Leave and licenceLeave and licence is just a licence to make use of the premises of a rented accommodation. The licensee is not…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 thesignificance 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) Excessive fluoride in groundwater is a huge problem in our State. This affects the teeth and the skeletal system. Harvested rooftop rainwater can provide fluoride-free water to households. How many habitations in Karnataka have excess fluoride in groundwater? About200.1,000.5,800.2) Cherrapunji receives the highest rainfall in India and the world. The average rain there is11,500 mm.7,400 mm.6,300 mm.3) Cherrapunji is also declared aFlood-prone area.Cyclone-prone area.Drought-prone area.4) The maximum rainfall in Karnataka is atSirsi.Agumbe.Mangalore.5) A water-efficient washing machine uses how many litres of water per wash with a full load?60 litres.200 litres.300 litres.6) Over 800 million litres of water per day is pumped into Bangalore. Some of the water leaks from the pipes and some is not financially accounted for. The entire unaccounted for water in the distribution system in Bangalore is close to37%17%7%ANSWERS1-c; 2-a; 3-c; 4-b; 5-a; 6-a.(Compiled by S. Vishwanath,www.rainwaterclub.org;www.arghyam.org;www.indiawaterportal.org;www.ircsa.org;www.voicesfromthewaters.com)…More

The Hindu : Design discovers the value ofspace as much as it adds value to it. It is an expression of one’s creativity and individuality and underpins every form of creation from mere arrangements of objects atop a table to the way we plan and execute our lives. While trained personnel offer a wide array of design services, right from planning to final execution, there are still the passionate few who do up their spaces themselves.One such home, with an ethnic Indian touch to its interior, is the Manocha residence. A mélange of plush furniture and curios all over the living room and dining space creates a warm, homely feel. Exquisite paintings accentuate every possible nook and corner. As one explores the interior more carefully, more collectibles and artefacts with cultural connotations catch the eye. The statue of a reclining Buddha in wood, , traditional textile art work panels and original Pahari paintings from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh are some of the objects worth mentioning. A wooden filigree mantelpiece with bronze statues, brass objects and figurines forms the focal point in the dining space.Impressive interiorThe person behind this impressive interior, Madhu Manocha, with a background in textile designing and clothing, says “The art and culture of India, its rich, deep-rooted mythology has always been my source of inspiration. The desire to delve deeper and uncover ancient art forms and techniques has been the basis of my collection. Also, my various journeys overseas gave me enough reason to explore and further add to this assortment.” Designer interiors give your home the feel of a coordinated lifestyle, which is stylish, elegant and classy. Like fashion, interior décor reinvents itself constantly. “Different styles may come and go, but a home reflecting the culture and art of the immediate environs and pertinent to the locale can never be called outdated,” she says.It’s easy and economical to do up your interior yourself since…More

The Hindu : Grappling with soaring pricesDo we see a bleak future in the construction industry due to increase in material costs? A look by A.B. SUDHINDRThe soaring prices of materials such as steel, cement and bitumen may jeopardise speedy implementation of important construction works. Members of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) have threatened to stop work if the authorities do not bring an amendment to the Price Escalation Clause immediately. But their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.The association president, S. Chinnaswamy Raju, said the members were apprehensive of undertaking works through tenders due to the uncontrolled prices and this had a debilitating effect. Many of the contractors either had become bankrupt or they were forced to switchover to other professions in view of the bleak future prevailing in the construction sector.The major infrastructural works either have come to a halt or are progressing slowly, he said and added that this was a bad sign.Association general secretary D. Kempanna said that Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have already brought in the amendment to facilitate speedy execution of construction works. “The contractors are executing works to the tune of Rs. 4,000 crore and they have employed around two lakh labourers,” said Mr. Raju.Labourers’ plightThe moot point is what will happen to these labourers if contractors go ahead with their veiled threat to stop the works. It would be a major blow to the family of Yamunavva, who has migrated from dusty Yadgir in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. She says about 10 families from her village have migrated to Bangalore to make a living and are all working as unskilled labourers. Life in the Garden City is comparatively better as they are able to have two square meals a day. Yamunavaa is not aware of the impending threat nor has she made an effort to know whether the contractor with whom her family works gets money in time from…More

The Hindu : Conserve and benefitHow does one devise motivational strategies for people to preserve water in simple and effective ways? Here’s one for Bangalore, admittedly starting with certain advantages, says S. VISHWANATHCities and city utilities all across the country are looking for ways to save water as this critical resource becomes scarce or threatens to run out. Getting the consumers’ attention is seen as an important way to reduce consumption. While appealing to their good conscience is a good thing, it hardly works. The best way is economic incentives since money talks. What then should be the approach to incentivise water conservation? Here is a strategy for Bangalore admittedly starting with certain advantages.Bangalore has every connection metered and an increasing block tariff due to historic reasons. The tariff, however, heavily subsidises domestic water with perverse incentives. For example, with a production cost of Rs. 24 a kilolitre (Rs.18 a kilolitre plus losses in the system of 37 per cent), a household which consumes 25,000 litres of water per month gets a subsidy of Rs.400 approximately per month.This subsidisation is simply unsustainable.On the other hand, if a household harvests rainwater and does not draw a drop of water from the BWSSB it still gets a bill of Rs. 48 covering the first slab. While the household has SAVED the BWSSB Rs.400, it has been penalised with a minimum bill.How then to devise a pricing strategy to include rainwater or recycled water as an incentive for households to consume instead of BWSSB water?Let us assume an average standard demand of 135 litres per person per day and an average family size of 4. Monthly demand would be 135 x 4 x 30 = 16,200 litres, say 16 kilolitres. This is a reasonable quantity of water a family is expected to consume in a month. Anything less than this shows frugality in water use, conservation and perhaps rainwater harvesting and…More

The Hindu : The business of registrationN.C.S. RAGHAVAN ARAVIND RAGHAVANIf the guideline value is more than the figure mentioned in the document, the former prevails while fixing stamp dutyThe compulsorily registrable documents shall be presented for registration before the office of the registering authority who has territorial jurisdiction over the immovable property or some portion thereof which is the subject matter of the document. All other documents where the registration is optional can be registered with any registering authority as the parties to the document mutually decide.On the presentation for registration of a compulsorily registrable instrument, the registering authority is required under law to take the following legal steps:He shall first verify whether the instrument has been presented for registration within the prescribed time and only on the instrument so filed in time can he proceed with the verification of the document and carry out other legal formalities for the completion of the registration.Stamp dutyThe first exercise of the registering authority shall be to fix the actual stamp duty payable on the instrument. In fixing the duty, he shall find out the true nature and intent of the document as evidenced by the contents. From the same, he shall determine the specific legal category to which the instrument belongs and fix the stamp duty prescribed for the same.In this regard, he is not bound by the title and description given by the parties but he can go beyond the same and fix the stamp duty in the manner mentioned above through his own independent judgment on the study of the document.In Karnataka, in respect of registration of compulsorily registrable instruments, the registering authority shall fix the stamp duty on the basis of the value of the immovable property as per the statutory guidelines issued by the State Government.If the “guideline value” is more than the value shown in the document, the stamp duty is fixed as per the…More

The Hindu : It is always a pleasure to see a clean water body. And a well-maintained lake in the city is a welcome sight. Bangalore was at one time known for its many lakes. Had they all been maintained intact, Bangalore would in all probability had another tag — Lake City. Many lakes have been lost to “development.” Dried up tank beds have seen buildings coming up on them, snuffing the water body out forever.However, an initiative by the civic agencies is aimed at preserving the ones left. And also rejuvenate them to make them attractive spots around the city. A case in point is the rejuvenated Nagavara Lake on the Outer Ring Road near Hebbal. The water sports and park make this lake a major draw in the locality. The lake attracts huge crowds during the evenings, especially on weekends.AdvantagesThe rejuvenation of lakes has a two-fold advantage. On the one hand, it leads to the upscaling of the neighbourhood, and on the other, the much-needed recharging of the ground water table.The city’s neighbourhoods need some open spaces providinga welcome relief from the heavy traffic-ridden roads and the built environment that leaves little space for greenery. Added to this is the large number of trees that are being brought down to accommodate the road widening projects all over the city. It will soon be only around the lakes and parks that you can get the greenery Bangalore has been known for.There has also been an increase in property prices in the vicinity of lakes. Traditionally, certain attributes command a premium in the real estate business. Now, properties close to a lake are commanding higher prices!Lakes also help in recharging ground water that has depleted to alarming levels in the city.“This is a good reason why the lakes need to be rejuvenated. There is no scope for ground water rejuvenation at all if the city’s water bodies dry…More

The Hindu : Rewarding actionAXN launches the third “Action Awards” co presented by Vodafone and Bingo.Sunder Aaron, Country Head AXN India, says: “AXN Action Awards is back by popular demand and this time its bigger, better and slicker than ever before.”“This year, the gorgeous Neha Dhupia is the host, and with her effervescence she will surely breathe in an astounding amount of adrenaline into the show.”Action Awards was created keeping in tandem with AXN’s proposition of bringing viewers action, adventure and excitement.This year too AXN continues the format of voting wherein the fans will play the most important role of felicitating the unsung heroes of action.A curtain raiser will be telecast on AXN on May 11 at 8 p.m.“I started off as a model and then moved onto the big screen. AXN Action Awards is my first foray into the small screen and I am extremely excited about it,” says Neha. Look forward to some super stunts, fantastic choreography, and last but not the least, meeting the people behind the action….More