The time taken to complete projects undertaken by Public Works Department may now come down considerably. The department has recently launched a mobile laboratory to test the materials used in the project site.
Officials of Water Resources Department, a wing of PWD, said the construction material had to be tested periodically for its quality. It takes nearly a week to complete the quality test every time the samples are brought to the regional soil laboratory in Chennai or Madurai.
The mobile laboratory is equipped to test construction materials such as cement, sand and blue metal for their quality. It has been set up by Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited, a government of India undertaking, at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh for WRD.
M.Ilangovan, team leader of WAPCOS, said that at present, the mobile laboratory is taken to projects such as improvement to tanks and supply channels implemented under Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management.
“There are tests to determine the fineness of the sand and grade quality of blue metal. We even test the turbidity of water used in the concrete mix. Concrete cubes are also tested for strengthened,” he said.
Compaction of the soil used in forming the tank bund is ensured through onsite quality check. The lab was useful as it bridged the gap of manpower shortage in the department.
Officials of the WRD said the lab would be taken over by the department after the completion of IAMWARM project in two years and used for other projects as well.
There are also plans to procure more such labs. The testing facility would also be extended to residents.
