Mangalore tiles disappear from rooftops

[email protected] (STANLEY G PINTO, TNN)
June 16, 2011

mangalore-roof-tiles

Mangalore, June 16: It's not yet time to write an ode to Mangalore tiles. Despite them having disappeared from rooftops as roofing tiles, they are now being preferred for insulation roofing.

But this has not exactly translated into business for tile factories here as old tiles from demolished buildings are also being used for insulation roofing. While first class tiles still have good demand, the second to fourth grade tiles with minor defects have not many takers.

The major reasons are non-availability of labour, raw materials plus the advent of apartment culture.

George Albuquerque Pai, proprietor, A. Albuquerque & Sons, said that though first class tiles, which cost around Rs 8-10 have demand, the third and fourth variety costing between Rs 3.50 and Rs 6, have been piling up at his stock yard. The tile factory was established in 1868 by Alex Pai (Albuquerque) of Pejavar.

Sujir Ramachandra Nayak, proprietor, Sujirkars Tiles, said that there was a slump in the market for the roof tiles as tiles from old buildings were being used. "Though there were 42 factories not so long ago, now there were only 12, which worked at 40-60% their capacity,'' says Nayak, whose factory was established in 1918.

Pai and Nayak said that at its peak, the industry with 42 factories in operation in Mangalore were manufacturing close to 7.5 crore tiles per year. "Now it's just 2.5 crore and the industry finds it difficult to market them, barring the first class,'' said Nayak.

About three decades back, Mangalore tiles had so much demand that the area from Car Street to Sultan Battery, a distance of 4 km, had 11 tile factories. Only two survive now.

Rajendra Kalbavi, project director, D K Nirmithi Kendra, who still builds low-cost tiled houses with concrete rafters, said the major shift to slabs by people as it offers security was the reason for the trend. "People who build houses with sloping roof use tiles for thermal insulation and to stop leakages. Those who have flat slabs do not prefer it. Also there is maintenance aspect (replacing broken tiles) for which you don't get labour here,'' he said.

Albuquerque Pai used to manufacture 25,000 tiles per day and now it is about 15,000. "The lack of government patronage in going for asbestos or other type of roofing instead of tiles for low-cost houses has resulted in this situation,'' lamented Pai.

The tile industry in the coast is almost 140 years old and during its zenith in the 1880s, numerous factories used to manufacture close to 8-10 lakh tiles a day. It was introduced in this region by German Missionary George A Plebot in 1865 after he found that large clay deposits were available. Not only the tile industry provided employment, it also provided a leak-proof roof above the heads. British were patrons of this tile industry and the one of the state buildings to use these tiles was the old Victoria Railway Terminus in Mumbai.

"Mangalore was the birth place of tiles and the tiles were used all over India hence were known as Mangalore tiles. The environment __ like the waterways for transportation of clay and tiles, superior quality clay, cheap and skilled labour and availability of firewood __ was conducive for the growth of the industry. Not any longer.''

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News Network
November 22,2024

Mangaluru: A man fell victim to an online scam, losing Rs 1.7 crore after fraudsters posed as officials from TRAI. According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, the incident began on November 11, when the complainant received a call from an unknown number at 9:49 am.

The caller, claiming to represent TRAI, alleged that another mobile number registered under the complainant's name was involved in illegal activities in Andheri (East), Mumbai. The caller further stated that an FIR was lodged against the complainant for harassment under the guise of marketing. He was instructed to contact Andheri (East) police station immediately or risk his mobile service being deactivated within two hours.

The complainant was subsequently connected to an individual named Pradeep Sawant, who claimed the complainant was implicated in a money laundering scheme linked to the Naresh Goyal fraud case. Sawant alleged that a fraudulent bank account under the complainant's name was opened at Canara Bank, Andheri, and used to purchase a SIM card for illegal activities. He warned that the complainant could face arrest.

Later, the complainant was contacted via WhatsApp video call by individuals posing as Rahul Kumar (a police officer) and Akanksha (a CBI officer). They allegedly sent fabricated CBI documents to his WhatsApp number. The fraudsters demanded money to "resolve" the case. Fearing threats, the complainant allegedly transferred Rs 1.7 crore through RTGS in batches of Rs 53 lakh, Rs 74 lakh, and Rs 44 lakh between November 13 and 19. A case has been registered at the CEN police station and an investigation is ongoing.

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News Network
November 17,2024

Mangaluru: District-in-Charge Minister and Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced that a day-care chemotherapy centre will soon be established at District Wenlock Hospital. Speaking to mediapersons after reviewing the activities at Wenlock and Government Lady Goschen Hospital, he shared the government’s plans to enhance healthcare services in the region.

Key Initiatives Announced

•    Day-Care Chemotherapy Centre:

  • Ten beds will be reserved for cancer patients.
  • The government will collaborate with Yenepoya Hospital to provide chemotherapy treatments.
  • All required facilities for the centre are already in place, awaiting inauguration by the Chief Minister.

•    Wenlock Hospital Facelift:

  • Critical Care Block: To be built at a cost of ₹24 crore.
  • Integrated Public Health (IPH) Lab: Planned with a budget of ₹1 crore.
  • New OPD Block: As per a 2017 agreement, KMC Hospital will take up construction. Discussions with KMC management are underway.

•    Additional Requirements:

  • A new mortuary and post-mortem building.
  • Paramedical college building.
  • Modern kitchen.
  • Bridge connecting two buildings within the hospital.

•    Total facelift cost: ₹6 crore to ₹10 crore, utilizing funds from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and CSR contributions.

•    Timeline:
By December or January, priority works will be finalized. The superintendents of Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hospitals are scheduled to visit Bengaluru next week to discuss these projects.

•    MRI Fee Allegations:
The minister assured that allegations of patients being charged for MRI scans at Wenlock Hospital will be resolved at the earliest.
These measures aim to improve healthcare accessibility and infrastructure, positioning Wenlock Hospital as a state-of-the-art facility in the region.

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News Network
November 16,2024

Mangaluru: The Kavoor police in Mangaluru, Karnataka, have arrested three individuals from Kerala in connection with two separate cybercrime cases, including one involving extortion under the guise of a "digital arrest."

City Commissioner of Police Anupam Agrawal reported that one of the arrested individuals, Nisar, a resident of Ernakulam district, posed as a CBI officer. He allegedly threatened the complainant with arrest and extorted Rs 68 lakh. A case has been filed under sections 66 (C) and 66 (D) of the IT Act, and sections 308 (2) and 381 (4) of BNS.

In another case, the Kavoor police arrested two men, Sahil K P of Thiruvannur, Kozhikode, and Muhammad Nashath of Mappila Koyilandy, Kerala, in connection with a share trade fraud. The accused are alleged to have deceived the complainant by promising substantial profits from an investment in the stock market. Trusting the fraudsters, the complainant invested Rs 90 lakh, which was subsequently lost. A case has been registered under sections 66 (C) and 66 (D) of the IT Act, and sections 318 (4) and 3 (5) of BNS.

The accused were arrested in Koyilandi and presented before the court. The operation was carried out under the guidance of City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, led by Mangaluru North Sub-Division ACP Srikanth K, Kavoor Inspector Raghavendra Byndoor, Kavoor PSI Mallikarjuna Biradara, and staff members Ramanna Shetty, Bhuvaneshwari, Rajappa Kashibai, Praveen N, and Malatesh. 

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