PM MODI INAUGURATED LIGHT HOUSE PROJECT (LHP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House Projects (LHPs) at six sites across six states in the country on January 1, 2021 through video conferencing. The projects are being undertaken under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)-India in six states across India including - Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Tripura. The Chief Ministers of all six states took part in the foundation laying ceremony. Speaking during the inauguration of the Light House Projects, PM Modi said that these six projects will give a new direction to housing projects in the country and has strengthened cooperative federalism.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that the Prime Minister has envisioned Housing for all by 2022 and by then, the nation will complete 75 years of independence. He stated that the program is of particular relevance to the state of Andhra Pradesh, as it is vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones and floods. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also spoke on the occasion saying that Jharkhand is a backward state and under Light House Project, 1,008 houses will be constructed in the state with the help of the centre and state government. He further said that people living in the state have low incomes, as most are labourers and hence, the government should further strategise on how to minimise their financial burden.
LIGHT HOUSE PROJECTS UNDER GHTC INDIA
The Light House Projects will showcase the best use of new-age alternate global technologies, processes and materials in the construction sector at such a large scale for the first time in the country. The houses will be constructed under GHTC-India, which aims to provide an ecosystem for holistic adoption of innovative technologies in the housing construction sector. The Light House Projects will be undertaken at Rajkot in Gujarat, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, and Ranchi in Jharkhand, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Agartala in Tripura.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN LIGHT HOUSE PROJECTS
Under the project, the houses being built in Indore will not have brick and mortar walls, but a pre-fabricated sandwich panel system will be used in it. Monolithic concrete is to be used in the houses to be built in Rajkot. This technology of France will give momentum and the new one will be able to withstand more disaster. Canada technology is being used in a house built in Lucknow, it will have walls already made, there is no need to plaster and paint these walls. The technology of steel frames is to be used in Agartala. This technology has been sourced from New Zealand. In Chennai, Finland’s and America’s precast concrete system will be used. In Ranchi, 3-D construction system of Germany is to be used to construct houses.
The project will comprise around 1000 houses at each location along with allied infrastructure facilities. It will mainly aim to deliver ready to live houses at an fastened pace within twelve months. These houses will be more economical, sustainable, durable and of high quality in comparison to the conventional brick and mortar construction. A variety of different technologies will be used in the construction of these LHPs, some of the which are listed below:
• LHP at Rajkot-Monolithic Concrete Construction using Tunnel Formwork.
• LHP at Indore-Prefabricated Sandwich Panel System
• LHP at Lucknow- PVC Stay In Place Formwork System
• LHP at Ranchi-3D Volumetric Precast Concrete Construction System
• LHP at Chennai- Precast Concrete Construction System in LHP
• LHP at Agartala- Structural Steel Frame with Light Gauge Steel Infill Panels
Cost of the Light-House Project: The cost of houses is Rs 12.59 lakh. Out of this, Rs 7.83 lakh will be provided by the Central Government and State Government. The rest of the 4.76 lakh rupees will have to be paid by the beneficiaries. In 2017, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry asked the states and union territories to select six locations for the light house project under GHTC-India. As per the standards, the GoI announced to start the Light House Project in the 6 states and Union Territories that received the highest marks.
The LHPs aim to serve as live laboratories for facilitating transfer of technology to the field and its further replication. The process includes proper planning, design, construction practices, production of components and testing for both faculty and students of IITs, NITs, other Engineering and architecture colleges and builders and professionals of private and public sectors.
Besides this, Prime Minister Modi also announced the winners under Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators (ASHA)- India on the occasion and conferred the annual awards for excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) Mission. Speaking on the same, the Prime Minister said that ASHA-India program is being run in the country to promote research and startups in modern housing technology.
Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators -India (ASHA-India) program is being run in the country to promote research and startups in modern housing technology
ASHA-INDIA
ASHA-India aims to promote domestic research and entrepreneurship by providing incubation and acceleration support to potential future technologies. Under the initiative, five ASHA-India Centers have been set up for providing incubation and acceleration support. The Prime Minister will announce the names of the potential technology winners under acceleration support. The technologies, processes and materials identified through this initiative will provide a major fillip to young creative minds, start-ups, innovators and entrepreneurs.
On the other hand, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) Mission has been designed to achieve the vision of Housing For All by 2022. The annual awards for excellence in implementation of PMAY-Urban were introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to recognize the outstanding contribution by States, UTs, Urban Local Bodies and beneficiaries. The 2019 winners will be awarded during the event. The Prime Minister will also release a certificate course on innovative construction technologies named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated, Research Innovation Technologies for Indian Housing) and a compendium of 54 innovative housing construction technologies identified through GHTC-India.
QUESTIONS (1-5)
Q.1 Which of the following Ministers, recently laid down the foundation stone of the Light House Projects at six sites in six states under the GHTC-INDIA?
A. Hardeep Singh Puri
B. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
C. Narendra Singh Tomar
D. Narendra Modi: ANSWER
Q.2 The Light House Projects was recently launched at six sites in six states. Which of the following is not one of those six states?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Bihar: ANSWER
C. Gujarat
D. Madhya Pradesh
Q.3 Which of the following statements is/are incorrect regarding the work undertaken by the Light House Project?
A. Implemented in Indore, Ranchi, Lucknow and three other sites.
B. The project will comprise around 10,000 houses at each location: ANSWER
C. The project were being undertaken by GHTC-INDIA
D. None of the above
Q.4 The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) Mission which has been designed to achieve the vision of Housing For All by 2022 is launched by which of the following ministries?
A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: ANSWER
B. Ministry of Home Affairs
C. Ministry of Rural Development
D. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
Q.5 Prime Minister Modi also announced the winners and conferred the annual awards for excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) Mission under which of the following?
A. USHA-INDIA
B. ASHA-INDIA: ANSWER
C. GHTC-INDIA
D. None of the Above
