Srinagar, Mar 28: For the comfort of devotees during cold weather conditions, particularly winter, the government has installed state-of-the-art under floor heating system at Hazratbal shrine on the Dal banks.
 Giving details about the system, Waqf Board Vice-Chairman, Prof M Y Qadri, said the heating system was installed following frequent complaints by visitors, about severe chill inside the shrine, especially during winter as it is situated on the banks of the world famed lake.
 “The traditional heating (gas and electric heaters) were not feasible inside the shrine as the dome height was around 90 feet,” he said, adding the Waqf looked for alternative heating source and consulted reputed engineers in the Valley.
 “The engineers recommended us to install under floor heating system, which is a technological replacement to the traditional hamam system,” Qadri said adding the services of firm Ecotech Engineers was hired for the job.
 “The engineers installed concrete under floor heating patch of  6x6 feet, in November 2009, which proved a huge success,” Qadri said, adding the engineers were given a go ahead in December last year to complete the project within stipulated time.
 “The engineers installed the under carpet floor heating system inside the shrine covering an area of 1600 square feet and completed the work in less than a month,” he said.
 Qadri said the heating system proved highly beneficial during the last winter, despite severe chilly conditions. “The devotees were all praises for the system and expressed happiness,” he said adding the system had provided them much needed warmth during the chilling months.
 Qadri said, the Board would consider installing of such system in other shrines after observing the performance of system in this year.
  “Ecotech Engineers,” consultant, Engineer Zahoor Ahmad said the under floor heating system in the shrine was controllable. “We can control the temperature of every row (Safa),” he said.
 “The under carpet heaters comprise heating mats, sandwiched between carpet and underlay and provides an effective solution,” Zahoor said adding the system was safest and beneficial for persons suffering from orthopedic disorders, especially arthritis.
 He said the “system minimizes mold growth as it reduces humidity that fosters such growth.”
 “The system was cost effective and cuts the energy cost by 30 to 60 per cent,” Zahoor said, adding there were no maintenance, no annual check-up costs.
 “It was a prestigious project and I consider my work a great contribution,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST