Retaining and supporting walls

It's not easy to build in the hills. I am losing sleep already. From someone would get heavy lidded at 9 p.m., I toss and turn until 1 a.m. and have to step out in the night time to visit the bathroom. 

The retaining and supporting walls take time and patience. About 8 workers are involved in building the walls. Stone must be carried from the carrying point to the wall on mules. Each mule costs Rs. 500 and works from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. We have to hire five mules everyday. 

Stone

Mules that carry the stones

Retaining wall, 1 m 20 cm thick, 6 feet above ground, 3 to 5 feet below the ground

Retaining wall from the front, its going to be 41 meters in length and will be developed in 5 metre "pieces"

More pics of the retaining wall, stone mason in blue t-shirt working on the wall

The supporting wall that has already been completed.

The map for the school is still being built. I had the junior engineer revise the map twice already. I brought another engineer with considerable experience in building (he is stuck at home because of the pandemic) to visit the site. He gave valuable suggestions. Apparently, after the building structure is built which includes RCC columns, laying of the slab, and brick masonry, we will have to wait a season before we can start the finishing work such as plastering, plumbing, electrical fittings as the building "adjusts" on the ground. The retaining wall has to be superbly thick and strong and that is why it is 1 metre 20 cm thick instead of the usual 18 inches.

Stone walls are beautiful but take to build. I have to run between two sites throughout the day, the stone picking site and the wall building site. Each has 4 workers. I spend time with the "mule" team in the morning or afternoon and post lunch I sit with the "wall" team. I am bonding with them as well. All of them are locals. I talk to them about my plans. I maintain a register for their attendance and pay the workers on Saturdays. I am writing down all the expenses related to building the school in a register. This work can get tiring. Even though Dhan da (Dharmanand ji) is thankfully helping me with my meals and laundry, hilly terrain can get to you. Plus, its a little hot and humid nowadays. Cannot complain though.    

I made this little video while sitting with the "wall" team towards the end of the evening a couple of days ago. I am sorry it's a bit lengthy, am digressing a lot, and the camera is a bit out of control sometimes but it shows the site very well. I am gonna work on my video shooting and editing skills.