Making a difference with green and sustainable chemistry
Prof. Lalit Vashishta????
Founder - CEO @ Diva Envitec Pvt Ltd | A Water & Separation Science Company | REVIVING WATER SUSTAINABLY - Engineering Today : Greener Tomorrow
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I am a firm believer in the statement that the greatest threat to our planet is “the belief that someone else will save it”.
Ever since man learned to harness the power of machines during the Industrial Revolution, from around 1760 to about 1840, he has been focusing on amping up output with little thought of how the input is steadily slumping.
As we adopted new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, harnessed steam and water power, and facilitated the rise of the mechanised factory system, we have been steadily assaulting our environment and planet.
The time for inaction is now past, and we must all now come together to look for green and sustainable solutions that conserve natural elements without holding back development and progress.
For what is the point of progress in a world where Mother Earth is dying slowly, day by day?
Across the world, policymakers and stakeholders are coming together to do what they can to ensure sustainable development – a development that “meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
THE EXPO
The conference and expo on Advancing the Implementation of Green & Sustainable Chemistry in Gujarat, to be held on October 12-13 in Bharuch, is another step in this direction.
Co-organised by the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), the Green Chemistree Foundation, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), the conference will primarily focus on sharing sector-specific case studies on the advancements in green chemistry implementation, put forward expert insights on emerging technologies and integrated approaches to safe, sustainable processes, and introduce potential solutions to process-related environmental challenges.
I am very pleased that Diva Envitec Pvt Ltd, a green engineering company focused on a wide range of process improvement technologies for industry, is part of this conference that aims to increase technical know-how of how green and sustainable chemistry has the potential to reduce effluent load at source of generation, and facilitate cross-sector learnings from technical experts, best practices, case studies, and emerging tools and technologies. We will be showcasing our products and services enabling the green cause.
Gujarat, which claims about 6% of India’s geographical area and 5% of the country’s population, accounts for almost 8% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2017-18) placed Gujarat first in India when it comes to industrial output (17%). The state contributes more 20% of India’s exports, with its ports handling over 40% of the country’s cargo.
The policy-driven business ecosystem and increasing investments stand tall as testimony to the state’s conducive business environment.
However, the good news brings along with it the bad.
One of the side effects of industrial development tends to be environmental damage. Experts say the unhindered flow of untreated industrial effluent into rivers in Gujarat has led to rising pollution in the Sabarmati, Mahisagar, Narmada, Vishwamitri, and Bhadar rivers. In fact, data from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) reveals the Sabarmati is among the most polluted rivers in India. The state is also ranked fourth among the top five states that have highly polluted rivers - as many as 20 rivers here are in the critically polluted category.
This is where green chemistry – and the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2020 – come in.
The policy aims to make Gujarat a global business destination for next-generation sustainable manufacturing and service industry. This will be driven by state-of-the art infrastructure, employment generation, inclusive and balanced regional development, and aims to:
领英推荐
It may seem impossible but the conference on Advancing Implementation of Green & Sustainable Chemistry in Gujarat aims to make this possible by bringing together diverse stakeholders, including industry, government bodies, regulatory organisations, and other associations.
And it’s amply clear that change is possible, if we work towards it slowly and steadily.
The BEAIL story is a case in point of how sustainable environmental management can change things at the grassroot level.
Bharuch Eco Aqua Infrastructure Ltd (BEAIL), a subsidiary of the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), aims is to take industrial effluent from Ankleshwar, Jhagadia, and Panoli Industrial Estates and treat it at the Final Effluent Treatment Plant (FETP) to marine standards and then release it deep into the sea.
Before the launch of this project, treated effluent from three industrial estates was disposed into Amlakhadi, a natural creek leading to the Narmada Estuary. This was stopped after the High Court, acting on objections raised by locals and NGOs, ruled against disposal of effluent into Amlakhadi.
This led to the setting up of BEAIL, which was dedicated to the state by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in January 2007.
The point for effluent disposal was decided on recommendations made by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to ensure “maximum dilution with least possible impact on marine environment”.
Safe disposal of treated water deep into the sea ensured that Amlakhadi, the Narmada Estuarine Zone, and nearby areas remained free of pollution and were conducive to aquatic life.
Years after this long-term solution to effluent disposal was put in place, a study into the status of marine ecology in the region revealed that it remained totally unharmed, in keeping with the reference to the base line.
If these units can, we all can. After all, our future will only be as bright as we make it.
I look forward to ideating and collaborating on how emerging tools and technologies can help address environmental issues related to solvent reduction, safer solvents and reagent selection tools, water recycling, greener processes, process intensification, and more.
I also look forward to showcasing how Diva Envitec Pvt Ltd can help make a difference with its diverse range of products, including CONTULFILT, PROMEM, NANOPOREX, CHD-Ox, PHT-OX, SUPERCAV, VAPOZEM, SOLVOSEP, and RESONIC WAVES.
As we move towards Industry Revolution 4.0, which envisages a union of technologies that blur the lines between the physical, biological, and digital spheres, it bodes well for our planet if we all work together to cut our use of natural resources, diminish waste generation, and ultimately reduce carbon emissions.?
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