Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Sep 9: The owner of a house in Bailaguthu, a low lying area near here, has opted to get his house jacked up from the ground to a height of four feet to get relief from the problem of flooding. His happens to be a novel experiment in this area.
Though it is common to see vehicles being lifted to change punctured tyre with the help of jacks, it is difficult to believe that jacks are being used to lift an entire house including the foundation and walls. However, such an endeavour is in progress in Sajipanadu village. This new experiment has kicked up lot of interest.
Bailaguthu resident Riaz’s house, where the work is being undertaken, is being lifted above the ground by about four feet from its current level by employing oil jacks used for heavy vehicles.
Delhi-based Hari Om Shiva house lifting constructions have taken up the contract for the works which is in progress. The house is being lifted with the help of jacks which are normally used to lift vehicles. The ground on all sides of the house is dug, and metal plates are inserted below the foundation. Metal plates have been inserted underneath the house after which the house is lifted slowly from the ground. It is necessary to lift it from all the sides at the same time. Slight mistakes while lifting can result in cracks in the walls, floors, and pillars.
At present more than 180 jacks have already been used and the house is already lifted by about three feet and it is intended to lift it by another foot on Monday and Tuesday. With increase in height on each occasion, stones are built to match the gap. Similar work will be held in the house of Riaz’s brother. The jacks would be removed in the final stage.
The house lifting company is conducting the works for the first time in Karnataka. Company supervisor Gokaran Singh says that they have lifted and shifted more than a thousand houses in Delhi, Kerala, Bihar, Assam etc. He says that his company has even shifted three-storey buildings.
The technology is most useful in areas plagued by floods. Instead of demolishing and reconstructing a house, lifting it is cheaper. Therefore, the technology may be more useful.
The company is learnt to have entered into contract with the house owner, guaranteeing that the house will not develop cracks for a period of ten years.