No Fine Concrete:Possibilities of Use in Indian Conditions
Maria Rasheeda and S.K. Rizvi, New Building Materials and Construction World, New Delhi
No fine concrete, (NFC) an innovative/modified form of cement concrete (also known as pervious concrete) is a environment–friendly and lower cost material which can be used for the construction of several types of structures with great advantages. Low loading intensity parking pavements, footpaths and walkways have been built on a large scale in many developed countries and their performance has been found excellent. Recognized as the best management practice by US Environment Protection agency (EPA), it is capable of controlling first flush pollution and storm/rain water overflow by allowing the received water to percolate down to earth and then seeping down to the ground water table. In parking lots where spillage of oil/coolants/antifreeze etc is a regular affair and the NFC collect and arrest these things during rains/flooding/washing etc. Preventing their washing off into streams, rivers and water ponds/tanks and polluting these valuable water sources. The arrested polluted water percolate into the ground and soil chemistry and biological elements in soil take care of these naturally. It also reduces the runoff from the pavement areas hence reduce load on drainage systems.
India is facing a typical problem of ground water table falling at a fast rate due to reduced recharge of rainwater into subsoil and unplanned water withdrawal for agriculture and industry by pumping. NFC if adopted for construction of pavements, platform/walkways, parking lots designed for lighter load, can help in improving recharging of rainwater. It can be– come a component of rainwater harvesting schemes being propaged by Government of India on a Priority basis.
