REPORTON

Visit of Professor Robert Berry along with the team of IIT, Delhi in connection with implementation of Science Bridge Project

at NITTTR, Chandigarh (India)

2 - 4 September, 2011

Prof. Robert Berry, Executive Dean, Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, UK came

for a special visit of the entire project activities undertaken by NITTTR, Chandigarh and IIT, Delhi

under the Science Bridge Project between India and UK entitled “Bio-Energy: Technology and

Business Solutions for UK and India.”

On 3rd September, a meeting was organized in the morning with the Director and selected group of

faculty members from NITTTR, Chandigarh, in which various project activities were discussed. Apart

from Prof Robert Berry a team from IIT, Delhi comprising Dr. P.K.Sen, Dr. Padma Vasudevan Sen

and Dr. S.N.Singh were also present during two days visit and technical discussions. Mr Sudhakar Sagi,

Research Associate from Aston University presently working at IIT, Ropar was also present during

these days. On 3rd September the team first visited the Phyto-remediation unit. Then they visited the

Solid bio-degradable waste management through Biogas Plant and NITTTR’s Organic Farm. Team

also visited the Multi-effect Distillation Unit installed in the institute campus which is installed for

purification and distillation of waste water.

In the afternoon the team visited a village called Padaul near Mullanpur in district Mohali (Pb) where

NITTTR, Chandigarh has initiated a pond renovation project by using Floating Rafts and Phyto-

remediation technique. The major highlights of this visit and technical discussions are as follows:

A. PHYTOREMEDIATION UNIT

Overall the team members were satisfied with the functioning of the Phyto-remediation unit, but

following observations were made by the team members:-

1) The hostel and kitchen waste water needs to be diverted to the Phyto-remediation unit in a

proper way, so that the required amount of water (2000 – 3000 Liter/day) could flow

everyday through filtration bed.

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2) In order to maintain the water level at the bottom part of the gravels, some baffle wall should

be provided at the outlet of each filtration tank.

3) The plant called “Phragmites” which has been planted in one of the filtration beds should be

clearly named along with its Botanical name.

4) The side wall of the filtration tank should be raised above the earth level so as to avoid entry

of eroded soil and mud inside the tank particularly during rain.

Research team from Aston University, UK, IIT Delhi and NITTTR Chandigarh inspected

Phyto-remediation Unit cum Filtration Bed

B. BIOGAS PLANT and NITTTR ORGANIC FARM

The team was quite happy to see the functioning of Biogas Plant and subsequently the Organic Farm

developed near to the Biogas Plant. The NITTTR Organic farm along with a bio-gas plant was

developed in May-June 2010 on an abandoned piece of land in NITTTR campus. The team was also

happy to see the Vermiculture Unit which is functioning well for the conversion of Bio gas plant slurry

into valuable manure-vermicompost. However the team made the following observations:-

1) The functioning of Biogas plant should be checked by feeding it with the kitchen waste

coming out from the Institute mess.

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2) Bio-gas slurry is a byproduct of anaerobic processes, so most of the pathogens die in the

absence of oxygen and make the slurry non-pathogenic. Thus, slurry is good liquid manure

used quite often by Indian farmers. But it would be better if the Biogas slurry is converted

into Vermicompost to get better quality manure.

Team Visiting Bio-gas Plant and Organic Farm.

C. MULTIEFFECT DISTILLATION UNIT

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With the joint efforts of IIT, Delhi and Mechanical Engineering Department of NITTTR, Chandigarh the

Multi-Effect Distillation Unit has been made operational. The unit was put on trial runs on 3 rd September

2011. Faults identified during the trial runs were remedied on 3rd September afternoon. The unit was

declared operational after the subsequent trial run on 4th September. Shri Sita Ram, a retired senior

technician from IIT, Delhi contributed significantly during installation and commissioning stage. The

boiler and the critical pipes connecting the distillation unit are in the process of being insulated to

conserve heat.

Inauguration of Multi Effect Distillation Unit by Prof. Robert Berry of Aston University, UK.

D. VISIT TO PADAUL VILLAGE

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NITTTR, Chandigarh has installed 24 Floating Rafts for the renovation of a dirty village pond at

village Padaul located near Mullanpur in Mohali district of Punjab. As a pilot study, in the 1 st phase 4

Floating Rafts were deployed in the pond on 7th August 2011. Apart from 4 rafts, the villagers were

also provided a locally designed boat made up of hollow plastic drums. The boat was fabricated at

NITTTR Chandigarh on 6-7 August 2011 by taking various locally available materials like empty plastic

drums and bamboos. The performance of boat was found quite impressive as it can hold easily the

weight of four persons while sailing in the pond. Initially, the Canna and Khas Khas plants were used

for the Phytoremediation through floating rafts. After experiencing encouraging results from the 1st

phase deployment, in the 2nd phase 10 more Floating Rafts were deployed in the pond on 16th August

along with various kinds of plants like Canna, Phragmites and Money plant. Further in the 3rd phase 10

more Floating Rafts were deployed in the pond on 23rd August with the same variety of plants for the

Phytoremediation.

Fabrication of locally designed boat by using hollow plastic drums and bamboo

in progress at NITTTR, Chandigarh.

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Fabrication of floating rafts at NITTTR, Chandigarh in progress

which was done by organizing a workshop from 4 – 6 August 2011.

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Plantation work and deployment of floating rafts by villagers

for phytoremediation in progress in a pond at village, Padaul, Dist. Mohili, Punjab.

A meeting with the villagers was organized on 3rd September to discuss various issues of pond

renovation. Some of the highlights of the meeting are as follows:

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Visit to Padaul Village by team members along with members of Rural Development

Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh.

1) Dr U N Roy initiated the discussion and highlighted the importance of the ongoing research

project. He explained the whole concept of the project for the renovation of the dirty pond

and total sanitation in the village. He also encouraged the youth to come forward for

adopting various techniques and appropriate technologies for their personal development

and holistic development of their village. The youth were further encouraged to undergo

various vocational courses run by nearby Polytechnics under the CDTP Scheme for their

self-employment.

2) Dr S N Singh, Prof. Mechanical Engineering from IIT, Delhi worked out the design of a

bigger size Floating Raft (6m×6m) with a provision so that a person can sail on the Raft to

undertake various activities like plantation and harvesting of flowers. He was of the opinion

that suggested model of Rafter, if deployed in sufficient quantity, might make the entire

pond renovation projct a viable commercial venture. He suggested to fabricate 6m x 6m Raft

by making use of 6” diameter PVC pipe.

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3) Dr J S Saini, Head, Rural Development, NITTTR, Chandigarh emphasized on diverting the

waste water passing through the drain nearby the pond. According to him this should be

done to maintain of the continuous flow of the water in the pond. Further, Dr Padma

Vasudevan Sen also agreed on this issue as the fresh water may help in maintaining the

oxygen level in the pond which would be beneficial for the aquatic plants and animal (fish).

4) Dr P K Sen, who was the guiding force behind the design of Floating Raft Technology, said

that additional Rafts may be deployed if needed for total renovation of the pond. After

monitoring progress and observing results of already deployed Rafts, optimum number of

rafts would be deployed in the pond.

5) Dr Padma Vasudevan Sen, suggested that the configuration of the Floating Rafts is very

important so that the flow of water passes through the root zones of the growing plants. She

further added that various kinds of hydroponic plants should be grown for the experiment. If

the floating rafts work as a nursery, then it would be beneficial for the villagers. She further

suggested that water flowing out from the pond may also be used for raising a nursery or

afforestation near the school through which the waste water is presently passing through.

6) Prof Robert Berry from Aston University expressed his happiness over the action research

started by NITTTR, Chandigarh and IIT, Delhi for the benefit of the villagers. He was quite

happy to see various activities at NITTTR, Chandigarh and their potential for replication in

village Padaul. During the discussion with the villagers he straightway put forth to take the

challenge head on to clean the pond and to make the dream a reality.

7) The village Sarpanch (village head), Sh.Paramjit Singh assured providing all support from

the villagers for the implementation of the project. Youth Club president, Shri Rajinder

Singh and member Sh. Sukhvinder Singh also agreed to cooperate in renovation of the pond.

Dr U N RoyAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Rural DevelopmentNITTTR, Sec – 26, Chandigarh (India)Email: unroy2000@yahoo.com

Dr J S SainiProfessor and HeadDepartment of Rural DevelopmentNITTTR, Sec-26, Chandigarh (India)Email: jssainittti@rediffmail.com

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