The construction scene in rural areas is characterised by the obsolescence
of many traditional building technologies, which use mud, stone, thatch,
bamboo, etc. These techniques are being replaced by a set of alternatives
using burnt bricks, Mangalore tiles and mill-sawn timber. While such alternatives
may satisfy some of the long felt needs of the community, they tend to aggravate
the depletion of rural resources. Hence there is a need for new alternatives,
which besides meeting the felt needs, will lead to self-eliant, low-cost,
employment-generating and, energy-conserving building practices in villages.
In other words, what is needed is a range of appropriate building technologies
which can trigger and hasten the process of development, reaching out to
the needs of the poorest.
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