REPORT
ON
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 Phytoremediation 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.
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C. MULTIEFFECT DISTILLATION UNIT
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 3rd
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.
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D. VISIT TO PADAUL VILLAGE
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 1st 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 Roy
Associate Professor
Department of Rural Development
NITTTR, Sec – 26, Chandigarh (India)
Email: [email protected]
Dr J S Saini
Professor and Head
Department of Rural Development
NITTTR, Sec-26, Chandigarh (India)
Email: [email protected]
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