Project Status

Thought I would complete my posts with an update of where the project stands as I prepare to leave India. On my last day on site we poured the concrete for the roof. The weather started to turn that evening when the region got it's first rain of the monsoon season (which should be great for helping cure the concrete, but will make it tough to continue work at the site for a while. The contractor said he planned to leave the falsework in place for about 10 days. At that point the concrete tank for the water catchment system needs to be built. Then a new concrete pad for the wash station with wash pads needs to be built. The new new electric water pump needs to be installed and power hooked up, the first flush system for the water catchment system needs to be built, and the wetland needs to be completed. So as you can see although we accomplished plenty in our time here , there is still allot to be done before the wash station is functional. I'm not sure whether or not the contractor will proceed on his own to complete these items or if another EWB team will have to be sent to direct the effort (I suspect the later). Also, I think the rain will prevent much progress for the next couple of months. So, I suspect Ann Marie will need volunteers for another implementation trip to help complete the project. I hope some of those of you who have been reading the blog and posting encouraging comments might consider making a trip yourself, if not for this project then some other EWB project. I can tell you my experience here have been wonderful and there is certainly a great need for or help in this region.

March 21

Yesterday was my last day in Ongole and it was a big one. I headed out to the site about 10:30 and was disappointed to find that no workers were there to pour the concrete for the roof. So I called the contractor who told me the concrete crew were on the way, so I decided to stick it out for a while. Sure enough around noon the workers showed up and what an interesting crew it turned out to be. The skilled jobs, like concrete finisher, carpenter, or mixer operator were all done by men, but the hard physical labor was all done by a group of 10 teenage girls. Let me tell you these girls could put any laborer in the states to shame with how hard they worked. They would carry the raw materials, aggregate , sand , cement, and water, in pans on their heads to the concrete mixer. Then when the batch was complete they would scope it into their pans and hoist it up to the roof and then again carry it on their heads to where it needed to be placed. All in about 80 degree, 99% humidity whether. Not sure how much they get paid for this kind of work but boy did they earn their money today. By the evening we had our first rain fall of the season in Ongole, so I'm glad we were able to get the roof complete. I'm in Hyderabad today awaiting my flight out for a few days of R&R in Delhi. I'll try and load up some pictures of the big pour next time I get a chance and have some final thoughts on where the project stands and my overall experience in India. Until then happy Hollie (It's a Indian festival day today where everyone paints them selves bright colors, I'll try and get some pics of that too).

Mike

Thursday, March 20

Action today! The contractor placed the rebar for the roof deck. Didn't take too long to get all of the rebar lifted into place and tied, not all that much different than in the U.S. I was actually on site while the work proceeded, so I actually got to film some of it. Later, the contractor introduced me to the cement mason who will be leading the concrete pour for the roof. He told me that it was 100% for sure that the pour will happen tomorrow... or at worst the day after. Well I hope it's tomorrow because it's my last day in Ongole before I head off to do some site seeing for a few days before heading back to the states and I would hate to miss the big event.

Wednesday, March 19

Well there was wasn't much action at the site today. The contractor bought the reinforcing steel needed to complete the roof deck, cut it length and delivered it to site. Tomorrow the rebar will be placed, so until then I thought you might like to see a photo of how things are currently done in the area. This photo is of a group of village women and girls washing their clothes in what appears to be a road culvert. I guess what ever water you can find is what you have to use. Pretty amazing to see how bright and clean the colors of the women's dresses stay under these harsh conditions. Hopefully, once our new wash station is completed in the village it can at least make their lives a little easier.

Tuesday March 18

Finally we started work on the roof today!! After much behind the scenes negotiations the contract agreed to move forward today and erected the falsework for the roof. It is interesting to say the least, though I think pretty typical by Indian standards. First the forms for the roof deck are 2' X 3' corrugated metal pans. These are supported along the transverse joints with a rough cut 2" x 4" header board. The header is supported by a series of roughly 2" dia poles spaced about every 3' - 4'. The poles are attached to the header by nailing a small board (1/2" X 4" about 1' long) to each. The poles rest on a footing of a similar small board in the native sand base. While maybe not what I expected it at least seems to give support to the joints where it is needed and I did field load test it by climbing up on top of the deck myself and if it can support my load (even in my reduced state after my day of illness) I guess it will work for the concrete. At least I hope so!

Roadtrip

March 17
As things were slow here in Ongole I decided to take a roadtrip to see a reverse osmosis water plant in operation in a village near Hyderabad. Before I made it there however, I learned first hand just how valuable having clean drinking water can be to a community like this when I came down with a severe case of dysentery, probably brought on by drinking some untreated water. Luckily I had brought meds from the states to treat it with just in case of such an occurrence, and am completely recovered from it now, but none the less it took me completely out of action for a day or so and you can really see how this could make life miserable for villagers who have to face this challenge every day without the help of modern medicines. Makes you appreciate just how much difference you can make in a village by providing them with a clean drinking water source. Anyway back to the project tomorrow (Hint I think there will be some progress!)

March 16

Well it's my 7th day in Ongole and I've been avoiding blogging for awhile for a reason, we've made no progress on the project. I have been told time and time again that work would begin but it never has. Needless to say this is very disappointing. I have been given a number of excusses why work is not proceeding that I will not detail here, but obviously I am not happy with the lack of results. On the other hand I have had pleant of free time to see the sites in Ongole.