• Twin-pit Sanitary System

• Low-cost Sustainable Model Houses

• Inter-Locking Bricks

• Buried Pipe Irrigation

• Low-Cost Concrete Road Roller

• Roller Trailer

• Fibre Concrete Roof-Tiles

• Community Participation in Infrastructure Development

Twin-pit Sanitary System :

In consideration of the pecuniary condition of the common people, technological analysis, socio-economic spectra, water supply systems, maintenance of healthy environment and under the perspectives of all other financial, social and physical infrastructure, twin-pit  sanitary system is quite useful for Bangladesh. Research and Development Wing of LGED has extended this applied technology at low costs. In this system, there are two shallow pits to contain wastes and water coming from the latrine. Only one pit is used at a time. When the pit becomes entirely filled with wastes, the second pit is then opened to be used.  Construction of safety tanks in Bangladesh is not in tune with the financial capacities of common people. In twin-pit sewerage system, soil pipe connection is made from the latrine’s pan to a specific connecting point.  From that point, two branches of soil pipelines connect two waste containers.  

Low-cost Sustainable Model Houses :

Housing is an outstanding basic need of mankind. The poverty stricken common people of Bangladesh build their homes by forest-grown building materials like bamboo, wood, straw, jute-stalks, jute-ropes, etc. Such houses are never sustainable. They just crumble down by cyclones or similar other natural calamities.  But with the increase in population, people are confronted with utter difficulties in procuring building materials, in building houses and maintenance.

Research & Development Unit of LGED has evolved three types  of model houses to overcome the aforesaid  bottlenecks faced by the  poor people in the construction of houses. In the newly designed houses, very limited quantity of rod, cement, brick and sand are used. As a result, these houses are quite economic, but long-lasting and strong.

Inter-Locking Bricks :

Bricks,  generally,  are of uniform size and measure. Such bricks when used in the construction of roads are liable to be removed easily. Moreover, the capacity to bear loads by these bricks is lesser and as such those have limitations when used in constructing roads. Interlocking bricks are made of cement and brick-chips mixed together and they are of different geometric shapes. These bricks are much larger in size in comparison to normal bricks.  So, the number of joints tends to be lesser in construction works with these bricks. Interlocking bricks, produced on trial basis under Project-4, have been used in constructing internal roads in rural markets.  

Buried Pipe Irrigation:

Generally, surface drains are used for irrigation purpose. Such surface drains are made with brick lining or concrete lining or just ordinary earthen drains. The first two systems are not economic, while the third one is required to be maintained every year during irrigation time. In these systems, much water is wasted (due to evaporation/percolation). Buried Pipe Irrigation System is economic and it does not require annual maintenance. In this system, total use of the command area of deep tube well irrigation is possible which is unthinkable in surface irrigation. Six schemes of Buried Pipe Irrigation were taken up on trial basis in Faridpur, Madaripur and Kurigram districts and those have been accomplished. These schemes are being run by Farmers’ Cooperative Association and the farmers are getting  considerable  benefits from this system

Low-Cost Concrete Road Roller :

LGED has been employing talent and skill in the innovation of low-cost and appropriate technology in rural infrastructure development. Compaction of soil is very important for rural road construction. Rapid development upto the mark is not feasible with expensive technology in a poor country. So, LGED constructed low-cost concrete road rollers with their own technical know-how. Construction of a concrete roller, weighing 6 to 8 tons, costs Taka 35 thousand to Taka 45 thousand only.  A layer of soil measuring 9 inches in thickness, if undergoes compaction for 16 times by this roller, comes down to 6 inches.  In the process, soil gets compaction  upto 98%. Besides, this roller is being used in the compaction of bituminous carpeting.  Low-cost LGED concrete Road Rollers have been proved cost-effective and facilitating its easy application in stabilizing and strengthening the country’s extensive rural infrastructures.

The technology of carrying  rollers quickly to work sites by the trailer has been developed by LGED in Comilla. No manpower is required to drag the roller on the trailer and to unload it from the trailer. These trailers cost almost half the cost of those imported from abroad. The trailer can carry large and medium size rollers.

Fibre Concrete Roof-Tiles:

Various companies and NGOs are currently marketing clay tiles, PVC tiles, ferro-cement tiles as alternatives to CI roofs. These roofing materials are being hindered to be popular because of their costs and sustainability. The trial production of fibre concrete roof tiles and its uses were implemented in Faridpur district as a part of appropriate and cost reducing technology development under Rural Development Project-4. In this technology,  jute is used as the fibre. Production under this technology is feasible fully by providing training to ordinary labourers. Fibre concrete roof-tiles are considered to be quite effective in the construction of shades at rural markets and bazaars.

Community Participation in Infrastructure Development:

Infrastructure development activities of LGED are planned and implemented through community participation process. Implementation of project activities is done with involvement of the private sector. Small and medium contractors take part in construction activities of LGED. In addition, the Local Government Institutions (LGIs) at various levels are also involved in the implementation of LGED project. Moreover, NGOs are involved to assist LGED in social mobilization aspects for planning and implementation of schemes. As a part of participatory devel-opment, beneficiary groups and user committees, such as, Labour Contracting Society (LCS), Market Management Committee (MMC), Ghat Management Committee (GMC), Road User’s Committee (RUC), Water Management Cooperative Association (WMCA) etc. have been formed under various projects of LGED. Involvement of the private sector, Local Government Institutions, NGO and beneficiary groups have significantly contributed to smooth planning, implementation and operation/ maintenance of infrastructure development schemes of LGED at the local level.

Briquette as Fuel:

Briquette is a good substitute for firewood as fuel. Briquettes can be used as fuel for bituminous carpeting works to curb huge wastage of firewood. One briquette factory has been established under Rural Development Project-14. Briquettes are produced from the husks of paddy in ordinary factories. Briquettes are being used in road development by bituminous carpeting. Fuel cost has been reduced by 20-25% by using briquettes instead of firewood. Large scale use of briquettes will resist deforestation to a great extent.

Briquette is being used in bitumen heating