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Right
from the President to the lower-rung people, all are impressed by the
project
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The
community sheds built by SASTRA at Pazhayar in
Nagapattinam district. Right, President A. P. J. Abdul
Kalam interacting with polio-affected children at a
special camp at the community shed at Akkaraipettai during his
recent visit to the district. |
The 39 community sheds, built in the
seven tsunami-hit coastal hamlets in Nagapattinam district by the
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an
autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology of the
Union Government, have won the praise of one and all.
The projected was executed through
the TIFAC-CORE (Centre of Relevance and Excellence) of Shanmugha Arts,
Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) - Deemed University,
Thanjavur.
Right from President A. P. J. Abdul
Kalam to the lower-rung people, all sections of the society including
the tsunami-affected people in the district have appreciated the
construction of the community sheds which are now being well utilized
as computer training centre, tailoring centre for women, balwadi, fair
price shops, fishermen's panchayat office, panchayat middle school,
boat repairing centre, for conducting classes and health check-up
camps, etc.
A. Sivathanu Pillai, scientist and
Chief Controller of Research and Development, Defence Research
Development Organization (DRDO), who came here recently, said that
that Mr. Kalam impressed by the TIFAC's success in the construction of
community utility centres after the Gujarat earthquake, had
recommended the construction of similar sheds for the benefit of the
tsunami-affected people in Tamil Nadu.
The TIFAC-CORE at Thanjavur was
chosen among the 21 TIFAC-CORE centres in the country and entrusted
with the task of carrying out the project conceived by the President.
Prof. R. Sethuraman, Vice-Chancellor,
SASTRA Deemed University, told The Hindu that a team of experts
from the School of Civil Engineering in SASTRA swung into action
immediately and completed the entire construction of 39 community
sheds in a record period of six to eight months in the seven coastal
hamlets of Nambiar Nagar, Akkaraipettai, Tharangampadi, Chandrapadi,
Vanagiri, Chinnngudi and Pazhayar.
The Vice-Chancellor said that the
TIFAC had also donated 50 composite motorized fiberglass boats, each
costing about Rs.1.30 lakhs, to the fishermen in coastal villages in
the district. The district administration, members of panchayats and
women self-help groups extended co-operation for constructing the
sheds, he said.
Prof.
Sethuraman pointed out the SASTRA engineering team had developed some
structural alignments suiting the local needs with a size of 24 feet x
20 feet based on the design approved by the Department of Science and
Technology. Each shed has been built at a cost of Rs.1.30 lakh and
will last for a minimum period of about 10 years. The ceiling and the
sidewalls were made of the composite material using jute-coir and
rubber with structural support provided by slotted angles, he added.
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The Hindu dated on 26.12.2005
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