Most of the regions in the state of Kerala are seriously affected by flood that occurred during the month of August 2018. A number of houses in the flood-affected areas are found significantly damaged or destroyed beyond repair. The flood affected the livelihoods of lot of people, especially those belongs to low-income group. A team from the Department of Civil Engineering, MITS, Varikoli comprising Dr. Babu Kurian, Sri. M. Dhileep and Sri. M. S. Sandeep volunteered to undertake the planning, design and execution of low-cost houses for the benefit of the people who were homeless due to flood. A proposal was submitted for the funding of one house with project duration of 90 days. An amount of Five Lakh rupees sanctioned from the Muthoot Aashiyana Scheme of the Muthoot M. George Foundation for the execution of the same.

The construction of the prototype started on 10-12-2018 at Eloor in Ernakulam District. The proposed house had a built-up area of 500 square feet. The house consists of two Bedrooms, Kitchen, Living/Dining Room, Sit out and a Toilet cum Bathroom. Necessary precautions were taken to avoid settlement of the building by providing a rigid strip foundation. As a measure of mitigation against waterlogging and erosion during rainy season, the ground floor level is raised to 75cm from the ground level. The structure is designed as load bearing for two storeys with an RCC slab. The possibility for future expansion is thus provided. The project work was managed and executed by the team from the Department of Civil Engineering, MITS, Varikoli and successfully completed in 59 days.

As an appreciation of the successful completion of the first house in 59 days, six more houses were allotted to the Civil Engineering Department of MITS in Kumarakom and Alangadu area and the foundation stone of the proposed houses were laid on 6th and 7th March 2019. The construction of all the six houses was completed in 78 days and the key handed over ceremony was conducted at Kumarakom in June 2019. The MLA of Ettumanoor Constituency Adv. Suresh Kurup MLA, Managing Director of Muthoot M. George Group. Sri. George Alexander and other dignitaries were present in the function.

Dr Babu Kurian,
Professor in Civil Engineering