Thursday, May 22, 2008

Mekaster becomes Industry Partner to NAM S & T

Press Release

NAM S&T CENTRE SELECTS MEKASTER GROUP AS ITS FIRST EVER PRIVATE INDUSTRY NETWORK MEMBER

New Delhi May 23, 2008 The Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) has selected Mekaster , a private industrial unit as its network member for promoting Science & Technology for the first time.

NAM S &T centre was set up in 1989 as an inter-governmental organization in pursuance of the decisions taken at various Summits of the Heads of State or Government of the Non-aligned Movement countries. Forty one developing countries represented by their government departments / ministries and agencies dealing with science and technology have so far joined the Centre as its member.

Mekaster group headed by its Chairman V.M. Trehan has been playing major role in the development and propagating the cause of Science and Technology in the country.

Its Chairman V.M. Trehan was recently awarded the coveted Presidential Gold Medal award by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) . It was presented to him by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh at ISCA inaugural function held at Vishkhapatnam


Mekaster which has been working for excellence since its inception in 1971, was the first to usher in the Digital Switching Technology in the country. Mekaster was also instrumental in setting up of the National Telematics Forum (NTF), which played a major role in formulation of the National Telecom Policy. Through the present forum of NAM, Mekaster would play a pro-active role for promotion of self reliance amongst the developing countries; as well as South-South collaboration amongst the priority areas of the center, forming Public - Private Partnership in area like National Disaster Management, Construction Engineering, Information and Communication Technology as well as Alternative Energy Sources.
NAM S&T Industry Network
NAM S&T network provides opportunity to its members to offer consultancy or undertake joint projects on transfer of technology, technical assistance, manpower development and capacity building in specific areas on bilateral or multilateral basis with other member organizations or countries. The Network members also get preference in holding international scientific events in collaboration with the Centre.
For further enquiries please contact:
Prof. Dr. Arun P. Kulshreshtha,
Director,
Centre for Science & Technology of Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries,
Zone - 6, IInd Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,
NEW DELHI - 110 003 (INDIA)
Ph.: (+91)(11) 24645134 / 24644974
E-mail: namstct@gmail.com

Sunday, May 11, 2008

BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS SHOULD FOCUS ON “SAFE AND SMART” HIGH RISE BUILDINGS AND WORK ON REDUCING COST OF HIGH RISE CONSTRUCTION - S.JAIPAL REDDY

BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS SHOULD FOCUS ON “SAFE AND SMART” HIGH RISE BUILDINGS AND WORK ON REDUCING COST OF HIGH RISE CONSTRUCTION - S.JAIPAL REDDY

New Delhi May 8, 2008 Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy today urged the construction industry to focus on futuristic ‘Safe and smart’ high rise buildings as need for construction of high rise buildings in metro cities will increase due to soaring land prices and growing global trend for accommodating various activities under one roof.

Minister while inaugurating the three day National seminar on ‘Recent Trends in High Rise Buildings’ organised by the Indian Builders Congress (IBC) said “ the construction industry should use latest green technologies, including environment friendly building materials, high tech sensors for conserving energy and water, and water recycling and ample parking and open spaces while construction of safe and smart high rise buildings”.

“High rise buildings for residential purposes is being seen as a major answer to urban housing problem not only in four metropolitan cities but also in other cities like Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar, Agra and Jaipur. But how far this is tenable, in the context of conditions prevailing in our country must be studied in depth before adopting high rise buildings” Mr Reddy said .

“ For structural and social safety in high rise buildings as well as providing essential services such as lifts, elevators, fire safety devices, the initial investment of capital is very high followed by heavy recurring costs for maintenance. The building experts should find ways and means to reduce both the construction as well as maintenance cost in high rise buildings” the minister added.

"Migration of the people to the Urban Areas is on constant increase due to enhanced employment opportunities . This has resulted in increase in land cost and desire of the people to reside near the heart of towns are some of the various factors which have given rise to construction of high-rise buildings. High rise development has come in vogue not only in mega cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai but also in large towns like Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore and Hyderabad" said Mr M Ramachandran, Secretary, Urban Dvelopment, whichle speaking on the occasion.

“About 400 consulting engineers, architects, developers, project managers from the public sector as well as private firms from the construction industry Professionals of Government Departments, Housing Boards, Development Authorities, State PWDs Teaching and Trainings Institutes are taking parting the three day seminar to discuss the design, construction and maintenance of high rise buildings” said Mr K.K.Kapila, President, Indian Builders Congress .

" The delegates attending the seminar will be discussing the latest design and construction technologies of high-rise buildings which is very complicated the common services such as electric supply, water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, fire fighting etc have also to be dealt with in an appropriate manner.’Mr kapila said