THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is mulling the use of international prefab technology for rebuilding houses in the state destroyed in floods. The Chief Minister’s office has requested the United Nations team to suggest international prefab technology companies for the state.
Sources indicated the Worlds best Prefab technology is available in Japan and this technology can be tried in the state.
However, the state government is in an advanced state of discussions with an Indian prefab technology provider.
There are reports the Indian company and its technology cannot match the higher standards adopted by the Japanese and European companies who are using this technology in modern societies on a day-to-day basis. A senior official privy to the discussion told Express more than 30 per cent of houses in Europe are now using prefab technology and Japanese technology is considered the world’s best in this area.
While a reinforced concrete (RCC) structure with 500 sq ft according to the state PWD estimate costs Rs 9.5 lakh, the prefab structure with international specifications and standards will cost around Rs 12 lakh. This is a big gap and the government has to evolve a strategy to bridge this gap.
For installing a prefab structure, it may require three to seven days and this will lead to efficiency and time-saving, but the mindset of the Keralites will have to change to adapt themselves to the prefab technology.