were the Guest of Honour at this occasion. The other dignitaries who attended the conference were Dr. D.N. Trikha, from DST, Prof. Aditya Prakash, Ex. Principal, School of Architecture, Chandigarh, Architect J.R. Bhalla, Ex-President, Council of Architecture; Ar. P.R. Mehta, President, Council of Architecture, Shri J.N. Bhawani Prasad, DG, CPWD and delegates from different parts of the country.

 Mr. L.M. Mehta, Secretary Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of India speaking as Chief Guest on the occasion emphatically stressed the need of equal distribution of infrastructure facilities in urban and rural areas and development of eco-friendly technologies based on non-conventional sources of energy. He stressed on the energy conscious approach for designing houses and the new settlements.

 The conference deliberated on the issues related with R & D and future perspective, housing policies and programmes, materials & construction technologies, cost economics & financial mechanism, energy & environmental concerns, measures for natural disasters and Infrastructure developments & needs in four technical sessions chaired by Shri P.R. Mehta, Dr. D.N. Trikha, Ar. V.K. Mathur and Shri J.R. Bhalla. There were 77 technical papers contributed by authors on different themes. About 25 papers were presented including papers by key speakers and principal speakers. The key speakers include the eminent persons like Shri T.N. Gupta, Executive Director, BMTPC, Shri V.K. Mathur, Director, CBRI, Shri Suresh Goel, practicing architect from Delhi, Prof. Aditya Prakash etc.

(Source: CBRI New Letter, Vol. 19(03), Jul.-Sept.2003)

News Briefs                                                 

Training Programme                                  

In order to popularize technology of making flyash bricks Flyash Utilization Programme (FAUP) proposed to Organize short-term training Building Research Institute at different locations in the country. Two day demonstration cum training programmes will include technical tested for quality. Schedule of demonstration cum training programme is being finalized in consultation with Thermal Power Plant Officials.

Seminars / Workshops                            

Ash Utilization Seminar-Cum User’s Meet held at  Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Project, P.O. Vindhyanagar Distt. Sidhi (MP)               

 Seminar-Cum User’s Meet at NTPC Vindhyachal was organized on Jan. 22, 2004. The seminar was inaugurated by and attended by over 80 delegates representing large section of brick kiln owners, VSTPP officials. Dr. Vimal Kumar, Director, Flyash Utilisation Programme, New Delhi, Dr. J.M. Bhatnagar, CBRI, Shri Guruvittal, CRRI and M.P. State pollution Control Board Officials delivered the technical lectures in the seminar.

Seminar on Recent Trends in Building Materials    (RTBM-2004)