GREEN HOUSES FOR INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE AT LEH

BACKGROUND

The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have its establishments spread along the border in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal. These establishments are located in high altitude terrain having hazardous climatic conditions. The ambient temperatures in most of these locations touch sub zero level and can go as low as -25°C to -30°C. The jawans and officers have to brave the climatic hazards like windstorms, very low temperatures and snowfalls in most locations. The prevailing climatic conditions are not conducive for growing of vegetables, flowers and other horticultural activities.

During the visit of the Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister accompanied by other dignitaries and VIPs on the occasion of Sindhu Darshan festival 2002, Shri Ananth Kumar, Hon'ble Minister for Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation moved by the ITBP, felt the necessity of plight of the jawans and officers of having suitable Green House Huts in such locations where vegetables, flowers & plants can be grown to meet the requirement of jawans and officers. Provision of such Green House Huts would not only help in meeting the daily requirements but would generally improve quality of life in such locations haracterised by hazardous climatic conditions.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF GREEN HOUSES AT LEH

The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) functioning under the Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation was advised to develop appropriate designs of Green Houses. The BMTPC, having analysed the prevailing climatic conditions, developed a cost- effective and scientifically arrived design of Green Houses with high energy efficiency, to meet the requirements. Two such Green House Huts were erected in the compound of ITBP at Leh by BMTPC in July 2002 with a view to demonstrate the technology and efficacy of the design.

The local officers were requested to maintain the Huts and study their performance with respect to the desired objectives.

During the past 9 months, the Green Houses have been successfully utilised for growing of vegetables, flowers and other plants. Three to four crops of vegetables and flowers have been grown during the period.

Following inside temperatures were obtained during summer and winter months. These have established the suitability of Green House huts for replication at other locations of ITBP.

 SALIENT FEATURES OF GREEN HOUSES

• Design of huts and use of toughened glass help in withstanding high variations in diurnal and monthly temperatures and high velocity wind force"nd snow load.

• The provision of hermetically sealed double walled air- tight glass panels in roof and walls help in efficient control of inside temperature vis-a-vis outside temperatures both in summer and winter seasons.

• The modular design provides flexibility for adopting any size of huts and the construction based on prefabricated elements help in easy transportation and quick erection.

• The design can be easily replicated in other locations having varying climatic conditions.

• The present design can be suitably modified to match the power requirements without any additional means of heating and also to ensure des/red light levels for plant growth.