Training and Demonstration Programme on

Earthquake Resistant Rural Housing at Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh

A CSIR-800 RSWNET Programme
May 14-15, 2010

Introduction
A Training-cum-Demonstration Programme on Eathquake resistant Rural
Housing, was organized at Sunder Nagar, Distt Mandi, Himachal Pradesh on 14 15th May, 2010 as a part of the CSIR RSWNET Programme for the
empowerment of Rural block engineers, NGOs, masons and skilled construction
artisans of the 5 districts of Mandi Division of Himachal Pradesh.

The state of Himachal Pradesh has a treasure of traditional architecture. This art
and architecture has mostly grown out of age-old cultural heritage and numerous
religious beliefs. The ancient art and architecture of Himachal Pradesh has
survived in the form of metal sculpture, wood carvings, stone carvings, paintings,
traditional residential settlements and temple architecture. They are of indigenous
styles and peculiar to the hills. Preparation of layout plans in hill area for the
construction of different types of buildings, such as housing clusters, commercial
complexes, and institutional buildings is much more complicated due to
constraints of hilly terrain.

Geography and climatic conditions

Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with
elevation ranging from about 350 meters to
6,000 meters above the sea level. The drainage
system of Himachal is composed both of rivers
and glaciers. There is great variation in the
climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh due to
extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies
from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern
tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern
and eastern mountain ranges. The average
temperature ranges from 28C to 32 C except in
alpine areas. The entire Himachal Pradesh is Epicenters of Earthquakes in
located in the earthquake prone Zone IV and Zone Himachal Pradesh region
V. There is a history of frequent earthquakes of
which the most destructive was that of 1905. The district of Mandi is located in
Zone V, the extremely sensitive area from Earthquake point of considerations.

TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENTS
Traditional house construction systems have developed in the HP hills using
mainly timber and stones. The composite timber and stone construction called
Kath Koni and the Dhajji wall construction are common in the old traditional
houses, but now there is a great liking for brick and cement houses even in the
rural areas.
v The traditional house is in the form of a hut, and a hamlet develops when
there are more than one hut and a small
temple. Thus from a singular structure of a
hut, a small settlement is developed.
v In Kullu valley, Satluj valley and the Ravi
valley a typical house consists of stone and
timber walls, constructed in what is known as
Kath- Kona Style- an indigenous style of
construction, in which the walls are made with
alternate courses of dry stone masonry and
timber without any cementing mortar.

Katha Kona Style

v In some parts of Himachal Pradesh, there is a

popular use of the Dhajji wall construction. In this
construction system, the walls are made of timber
frames with in-fills of light thin panels made by
close packaging of mud mortar, stone and
ballast.
Dhajji Style Walling

v The hill house usually consists of two rooms. One on top of another and is built
with mud, stone and timber. Usually the ground floor is used for keeping cattle
and storing grain and fodder. The upper floor is the main living area.
In the vernacular architecture of the Himalayan region wood is extensively used,
as the forests of the deodar wood and other mixed forests were easily available.
Deodar wood has been used traditionally to impart stability to tall structures. The
space in between is filled with stones. Mud is plastered on the inner and outer
sides of the walls to provide insulation from the harsh weather.
Although the old Kath Koni system of construction was quite safe during
earthquakes because of timber bands provided at short gaps, but due to
shortage and high cost of timber the quantity of timber has reduced considerably
making the rural houses more prone to earthquake damages. Hostile weather
conditions and limited supply of building materials has resulted in the greater use
of mud, stone and wood in varying degrees.
Traditional houses are also constructed using earth filled into the wooden forms
and rammed into the place slowly building the wall or by using sun dried mud
blocks in wall construction. These days building materials like cement, steel,
bricks, sand and stone aggregate are transported from long distances at very
high cost. Other materials available locally are:
S.No.
1
2
3
4
5

Mineral Resources
Limestone
Slates
Gypsum
Clay
Silica Sand

Areas
Kangra, Bilaspur,
Mandi, Shimla, Simaur
Chamba
Kinnaur
Kangra
Una

At present there are two housing schemes running in the state namely: Indra
Awas Yojna and Atal Awas Yojna, supporting the construction of housing for
BPL and rural poor. There is a scope of considerable improvement in the
planning, design, and construction of new buildings in the mountains in order to
make them disaster resistant, conserve fuel and to provide better thermal comfort
within affordable cost. New improved materials, designs, and construction
techniques can help in realizing some of these goals. The provisions of low cost
sanitation, energy efficient chullah, safe hygienic drinking water, earthquake
resistant features, rain water harvesting etc. are still missing in a large number of
rural areas.
It is, thus, a region that needs S&T intervention urgently. People of the region
desperately need a solution to their housing problem.

Partner Agency
Himachal Pradesh Council of Science, Technology and Environment (HPCST&E)
Shimla is a potential state level agency having the charter of extension and
training for empowerment & upliftment of rural population.
The Council undertakes programmes in the areas of;
-

Popularization of science,
Appropriate Technology,
S&T entrepreneurship development,
Remote sensing applications,
Students projects
S&T library and Documentation

HP CST&E is also working in many areas that are common to those of RSWNET
activities like

Implementation of Solar Passive Housing Technology for HP

Low Cost Green House Technology Propagation
Appropriate Technologies Research, Development &
Promotion Centre
Training of Artisans for Income Generation
Building Centres

Interestingly, it was learnt during interactions that HPCST&E has a similar type of
programme sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India,
New Delhi. The two agencies namely CBRI Roorkee and HPCST&E, Shimla
accordingly planned to arrange jointly 3 training cum demonstration programmes

on Earthquake Resistant Rural Housing in 3 divisions, namely Mandi, Shimla and

Kangra division, of the HP state particularly for the benefit of the field engineers,
construction artisans and NGOs of all blocks of the state. HPCST&E shimla has
a plan to associate some of these trained personnel as trainer in future for
arranging dissemination and extension activities on appropriate rural housing
technologies for the benefit of the common masses in the state.
The advice, guidance and support received from the senior officials of both the
organizations particularly from Mrs. Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Additional chief
secretary, Science & technology Govt of Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Nagin Nanda,
Member secretary HPCST&E, Shimla and Prof. S. K. Bhattacharya Director,
CBRI, Roorkee have considerably helped in planning and in making preparatory
arrangements for the training programme.
The two organizations, CBRI Roorkee and HPCST&E Shimla accordingly
shouldered the responsibilities jointly and worked together for successful
organization of the first training programme at Sundernagar, Mandi. The
HPCST&E mobilized the trainee participants from 26 blocks of the 5 districts of
the Mandi division and looked after for all local arrangements of venue, stay of
the faculty and trainees including travel and meals of the trainee participants.
CBRI on its part provided full technical support, faculty, Readers and course
materials and planning & arranging of technical sessions, demonstrations, hands
on practice sessions, film show etc.
The principal of Sundarnagar Government Polytechnic and the Appropriate
Technology Center (ATC) Sundernagar actively participated and provided full
infrastructural support like their auditorium, demonstration site and AV facilities
for organizing the programme
Problems of Housing in Hills
The study of Rural Housing in the hills of HP identified some of the following
problems which predominantly affect quality of housing constructions and living
as Difficulty of getting suitable orientation on the hill slopes.
Problems of soil erosion and land slides.
Dense forest area and Restrictions by the forest department
Limitations on the height of the building due to earthquake risk.
High cost involved in the site development due to the cutting and the filling
of hill slopes to obtain a flat terrace for construction.
Non-availability of motorable roads to construction site making transport of
material to site difficult and costly.

Inaugural Programme

The inaugural function was chaired by Shri Vinod Kumar, ADM, Mandi as the
Chief Guest, while Dr. A.K.
Ahuja, Joint Director, Technical
Education Himachal Pradesh
presided over the function. The
other dignitaries on the dais
included Ar. O.S.Sen, Principal,
Govt. Polytechnic, Sudernagar,
Dr. S.S. Randhawa, Scientific
Officer, HPCSTE, Shimla and
Shri. S.G. Dave, scientist, CBRI
Roorkee.

Glimpses of the Inaugural Progranmme

Shri Vinod Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, Mandi while inaugurating the
training lauded that such grass root level trainings may help in adoption of
suitable Earthquake Resistant Technologies and serve the larger interest of the
Himalayan State, which falls in Zone IV & V by the norms of the earthquake
definitions. The chief guest appreciated the joint effort of HPCST&E and CBRI,
Roorkee for taking up an interesting societal programme. He advised the trainee
participants to learn appropriate techniques with full dedication and a
commitment in order to take and transfer them further for field implementations in
all future construction activities. The Chief Guest also suggested for inclusion of
a discussion on suitable retrofitting techniques in the training curriculum so as to
help and get them implemented in the improvement of the existing houses and
making them earthquake resistant.

Earlier Dr. Randhawa in his welcome address briefed on the purpose and
objectives of the training and informed the participants that HPCSTE jointly with
CBRI has plan to organize three such training programmes in three
commissionaires of the state namely Mandi, Shimla and Kangra/Dharmshala
covering the blocks engineers and mason artisan trainees from 50 blocks of the
State. In first such training at Sundernagar, 52 block Engineers and 32 Mason
artisans represented 25 blocks of the Mandi Commissionery as participants. Dr.
Randhawa introduced the subject by briefing on Overview of Disasters in
Himachal Pradesh.

Shri S.G. Dave, Senior Scientist, CBRI, Roorkee highlighted the programme
details and training schedule of 2 days which provided equal stress on theoretical
training to engineers and onsite demonstration/training to masons. He briefed on
CSIR-800 RSWNET programme of the XIth Five Year Plan and informed about
CBRI contribution for Dissemination, training and demonstration of Rural Housing
Technologies under the CSIR-800 programme. He then introduced the resource
group of 5 member team of CBRI Scientists and briefed on the contents of two
technical readers one in Hindi especially distributed among mason artisans in
simple language with illustrative sketches and another in English containing brief
on some 20 selected technologies for distribution among the engineer-trainees.

Faculty
The following 5 CBRI scientists
of the programme:
Shri SG Dave, Scientist-G,
Shri S K Negi, scientist,
Dr. SK Singh, Scientist
Shri H K Jain, Tech. Officer
Shri Rajiv, Tech Officer,

participated as resource faculty for prganization

Civil Engg
Architect
Struct. engg
Civil Engg
Civil Engg

The main officials from HP CST&E, Shimla associated with the organization of
the Programme included;
Dr. S S Randhawa, Scientific Officer, HP CST&E, Shimla
Shri Kalit Bhardwaj, Appropriate Technology Center, Sundernagar

Participants
The trainees of the programme were junior engineers and masons derived mainly
from various Block Development Offices of the 5 districts of Mandi
Division. Some NGOs and individuals engaged in rural development, civil
construction and housing activities also participated in the programme. The
programme was attended by about 100 trainees (List enclosed at Annexure I)
consisting of social workers, NGOs, engineers from government departments,
volunteers, and masons from various nearby villages.

Interestingly the attendance kept on increasing every subsequent day as news of

the programme spread by news paper publicity and word of mouth.

Course Contents
Based on the geographical study, availability of resource materials and skills,
living pattern of the villagers and also looking into the strengths, weaknesses and
future possibilities, the course contents of the programme were designed to meet
various housing needs of the region.
The training course mainly covered;
Planning of Rural Housing
Earthquake, wind and fire resistant Housing.
Earthquake features & Tips for housing in Zone V region.
Fire and Rain Resistant Mud & Thatch Construction,
Plinth protection of existing mud+stone walls
Selection, treatment and structural use of bamboo
Rural sanitation 2 pit sanitary latrine and waste water disposal system
Quality Control in Rural Housing

Improved Building Materials and Construction Technologies for Rural Housing

Precast RC Plank and Brick Panel roofing Systems, C-Bricks and
Concrete Blocks,
C-Bricks, sand+cement bricks
Ferrocement Products and Applications
Rural Housing for Improved Quality of Life: Cooling, Ventilation, day
lighting, smokeless chullah, chimney etc
Rain water harvesting, Terrafill water filter etc

A copy of the Programme schedule is enclosed at Annexure-II.

The programme was adequately supplemented with field demonstrations,
models, Power Point presentations and a technical exhibition that was also put
up at the venue.
Himachal Pradesh being prone to earthquakes, landslides, heavy rains, winds
and fire hazards, all the faculty members stressed on the design and construction
of hazard resistant houses using locally available materials and skills.
Demonstrations
Hands on training and demonstrations were arranged on the following for the
engineers and masons, live or by using models and AV display;
Correct method of providing
Precast RC plank and Brick panel
vertical steel bars in brick masonry,
systems of roofing
laying
earthquake
bands
in
Concrete & stone masonry blocks
buildings and mud houses, bonds
Two pit rural latrine
at corners and junctions of walls
Rural waste water disposal system
Rat-trap bond brick masonry
Methods of protecting mud walls
Fire and rain resistant thatch roof
against floods and rains
Production of cement sand bricks
Bamboo reinforced Ferrocement
C-brick machine and process
wall cladding

Demonstrations and Hands-on-training organized at Sundernagar

Film screening

A film on Stone and Concrete

masonry Blocks and another on
Earthquake resistant construction of
rural houses were also screened on
the second day of the programme.
The
film
together
with
live
demonstrations
of
several
technologies and a hands-on-practice
opportunity to the mason trainees has
significantly helped in understanding
of the details of technicalities, working
methodologies which are important for
the field implementation.

Course Materials
Technical Books, containing details of technologies and materials covered in the
programme, in English for engineers and in Hindi for masons was specially
prepared for the Meghalaya region.
Bound volume of the book was
distributed among all participants
along with a simple training kit. The
book provides adequate details of all
topics that were covered in the
training programme and additional
technical details on topics that could
be of interest to engineers and
masons engaged in rural housing in
Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh.
Topics covered in the book are;

Topics covered in the English Reader

prepared for Junior Engineers
Central Building Research Institute
(CSIR), Roorkee
Institute Publications
Cost Effective Innovative Materials and
Technologies
Building Foundations
Precast Stone Masonry Block Walling
Scheme
Solid Stone Concrete Block Masonry
Scheme
Concrete Block Making Scheme
Rat Trap Bond
C Brick Machine
Precast R.C. Plank Flooring/ Roofing
Scheme
Prefab Brick Panel System for Roofing/
Flooring
Ferro-cement
Improved Method of Making Durable and
Fire Retardant Thatch Roof
Non-Erodable Mud Plaster on Mud walls
for Rural Houses
Waste Water Disposal System for Rural
Areas
Low Cost Sanitation for Rural & Urban
Areas
Termite Control in Buildings
Precaution During Termite Control
Measures in Buildings
Chimney Design for Domestic Kitchens
Earthquake Resistant Design &
Construction of Buildings
Earthquake Tips for Zone V Areas
Construction Quality
Rainwater Harvesting System

Topics covered in the Hindi Reader

prepared for masons/Artisans

dsUnzh; Hkou vuqla/kku laLFkku] :M+dh

HkwdEi lg~; Hkou
HkwdEi lg~; rRdkfyd vkJky;
dahV
IkRFkj ds iwoZ fufeZr Cykd Bksl fi.M+
fLFkjhr feV~Vh ds fi.M
mM+u jk[k lh fczd bZaVas
bZaV cukus dh est
fnd~foU;kl
nhed ls cpko ds mipkj
uhao
fpukbZ
bZaV dh fpukbZ
bZaV dh fpukbZ esa /;ku j[kus ;ksX; ckrsa
lhy jksd jn~nk
fyaVy
QSjks lhesaV ds se o iYys
fcuk pkS[kVokys f[kM+dh o njokts ds iYyksa ds
dCts
ty&lg~; feV~Vh xkjs dk iyLrj
dPph nhokj dks ikuh ds dVko ls cpkuss dk
lqj{kkRed mik;
Qwal o iyLrj feV~Vh ds mUur xzkeh.k vkokl
vfXu vojks/kd NIij
Xkzkeh.k & 'kkSpky;
O;FkZ ty fudklu iz.kkyh
iwoZ fuer Nr fuekZ.k i)fr
IykLrj
Q'kZ
?kjsyw iznwk.k jksdus gsrq % lLrh fpeuh
Nr ry okiu iz.kkyha
Hkwty iquHkZj.k ,oa lao/kZu

Interested participants were provided soft copies of the Power Point

presentations.

.
Interactive and Concluding Programme

The interactive session and concluding programme was Chaired by Shri B.K.
Avasthi, SE (Design), PWD, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Shri B.K. Avasthi, Chief Guest with Shri SG Dave CBRI and Dr SS Randhawa, CST&E HP
during the Concluding Function

On the concluding day a problem solving

session evoked a very good response from the
participants wherein housing construction
problems, appropriate economical rural
Housing technologies, disaster resistant
housing, use of local stone and sand in the
construction were some of the main issues
discussed.
The trainees freely participated in the interactive session and expressed their
views which mainly pertained to the usefulness for the field engineers and
construction workers. Field Engineers mainly desired to have such brief trainings

which not only

help in reorienting the theoretical aspects but also help in improving the quality
of the construction standards, resolving some of the site difficulties and in field
implementation of latest R&D and knowledge. Some engineers expressed their
doubt for adoption of newer technologies in Government Construction works
unless these are incorporated in state PWD specifications and schedule of rates.
Trainees expressed their satisfaction about the contents of the training technical
readers and the method of imparting training which stressed more on clarity, field

Shri B.K. Avasthi, SE (Design), Chief Guest visiting demonstration of Rural Housing Techniques

demonstration and hands-on practice sessions for mason artisans.

They
concurred that joint session with field construction engineers and masons helps
in better mutual understanding and improving good quality practices/norms in
construction. Some entrepreneurs in the area are manufacturing hollow and solid
concrete blocks. Since the cost of such blocks is high and quality is poor,
technical guidance and planned effort is needed to train such entrepreneurs.
HPCST&E with technical assistance from CBRI may introduce good production
practices in the region and initiate few programme to ensure practical
implementation of these technologies. Few NGOs have come forward to arrange

more such programmes at the grass root level in villages and desired to have
support from HP CST&E and CBRI, Roorkee.

Media Publicity

The training attracted wide attention of all

local media people, who highlighted the
programme.
A
large
number
of
newspapers published reports on the
programme prominently for all the 3 days
continuously.
Learning
from
newspapers,
new
participants joined the training programme
in the successive day. Few newspaper clippings are seen at Annexure-III

Annexure - II
TRAINING & DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMME
Earthquake Resistant Rural Housing for the Hills of Himachal Pradesh
Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, HP
May 14-15, 2010

Programme
May 14, 2010
10:00 11:00
11:00 11:30

11:30 11:45
11:45 12:30

12:30 13:30
13:30 14:30
14:30 15:30

15:30 17:30

May 15, 2010

09:30 10:00
10:00 11:30

Registration
Inaugural Function
Overview of Disasters in Himachal Pradesh.

SS Randhawa

Tea
Appropriate Rural Housing Technologies and
Materials for the Hills of HP
General Exposure and Philosophy

SG Dave

Earthquake resistant rural housing techniques

- General tips
Lunch
Design and construction of a Hill House
Durability and Safety
- Cost and Functional Efficiency
Demonstration of Appropriate
Housing Techniques

S G Dave

HK Jain
SG Dave

HK Jain, Rajeev

Technical Film Show

11:30 12:00

Earthquake, Wind and Snow resistant

Design of Houses
Planning and Design of Hill House

SK Singh
S K Negi

12:00 13:00

Quality Control in Hill constructions

S K Singh

Lunch
Demonstration of EQ safety in houses

HK Jain,

13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 16:00
Rajeev

16:00 16:30
16:30 17:30

Technical Film Show

Interactive and Concluding function