NIT Durgapur
NIT Durgapur
NIT Durgapur
NIT Durgapur
Centre for Research on Environment and Water (CREW)

Syllabus

Introduction
It is well-known that environmental pollution is a threat to humankind, especially in terms of human health and to ecological systems. Special mention may be made of many industries in and around Durgapur city, such as Durgapur Steel Plant, Durgapur Chemicals Limited, The Durgapur Projects limited, Philips Carbon Black, Alloy Steels Plant, Eastern Coalfields Limited, etc. and also many small scale industries. Extensive agricultural activity is also prevalent in Barddhaman district. As Durgapur is a rapidly developing city with a burgeoning population, increasing use of fossil fuels and generation of municipal wastes are associated with its development. In this localized scenario as well as in the national scenario, a state of the art centre for studies and research on such environmental issues is extremely relevant. A centre with a multidisciplinary approach towards advanced research on environment and water in an institute of national importance, such as National Institute of Technology Durgapur can play a very effective role in this regard. Such a centre would need precision high value analytical instruments for this activity. The centre would aim to develop the expertise to assist industry and civic administrations in developing and implementing evaluation, remediation or management strategies for contamination issues and develop technologies to convert wastes to value-added products wherever feasible. Hybrid treatment technologies encompassing chemical, biological and physico-chemical treatment schemes would be a viable and practical option to substitute inadequate conventional treatment systems. As the Centre is interdisciplinary in nature and made by multiple departments like Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Management Studies and Computer Science & Engineering to implement for ensuring total environmental compliance by industrial houses and municipal bodies.
Vision and Mission

Vision: To provide tangible solution to convert pollution and other environmental problems to increase the pace of economic development through industrial and agricultural development in a sustainable manner by thorough and cutting edge research involving group of experts of diversified field of environment.

Mission: To solve environmental problems, originated from natural processes and/or anthropogenic activities into environmental systems through developmental activities in the form of industrialization, intensive agricultural practice and rapid urbanization. The methodology shall be through an interdisciplinary approach by forming a cohesive group of researchers of diverse fields having a passion to work for the environment.

To develop a system of environmental risk assessment and remediation to provide a resource for professionals researching and assessing environmental threats to both humankind and ecological systems.
Aims and Objectives

To realize its vision and accomplish its mission, the centre will have the following specific objectives:

 

  • Development of low cost technological solutions of industrial effluent treatment, particulates and gaseous emission control system and solid waste management system.
  • Precise assessment of contamination and transport mechanism of contaminants in soil and groundwater system and development of control mechanism.
  • Development of low cost highly sensitive environmental monitoring equipment, particularly electronic sensors with data logger.

 

Focus Area of Research
A) Formation of project groups within the research group having common interest to research on the following problem domains of environment and water with a commitment to time bound tangible output.
To tackle with the pollutants from Chemical Industries (Wastewater Treatment Technology):
  • Low cost treatment technology of various industrial effluents such as those from tannery, textile, paper mill, pharmaceutical, coke oven, metallurgical, chemical, and paint industries.
  • Development of advanced membranes for effective remediation of wastewater contaminants.
To tackle with the pollutants from Solid Waste:
  • Conversion of waste to resource / energy in order to manage solid wastes such as municipal solid waste and agricultural waste.
To tackle with the pollutants from Mining Industries:
  • Assessment and control of acid mine drainage in coal mines and metal mines.
  • Management of mine waste and stress on groundwater due to OCPs
To tackle with the problems of waste contentment structure: Geo-environment:
  • Management of ash ponds, tailing ponds and landfills – stability and safety studies on landfills and evaluation of pollutant migration through liner materials.
Ground water decontamination
  • Assessment of impact on groundwater by open cast mines and its remedies.
  • Assessment of mechanism of natural contamination of groundwater by fluoride and arsenic and possible low cost remedial measures.
  • Assessment of contamination mechanism of groundwater by pesticides from agricultural fields and possible remedial measures.
  • Low cost treatment technology for CBM co-produced water
  • Assessment of impact of withdrawal of CBM on environment.
Environmental Radioactivity:
  • Development of strategies to monitor environmental radioactivity and to provide feasible solutions.
Human health hazard due to environment and water pollution:
  • To study the impact of environmental pollution on human health and on the flora and fauna in ecological systems
  • To promote environmental considerations in product design and technology development in all fields of engineering
Air pollution monitoring and control technologies
  • Development of low cost high temperature air pollution filtration system
Bioremediation
  • Development of processes for bioremediation of wastes to convert them to harmless/less harmful forms or to yield value-added products
Investigation on hot spring water for seismic surveillance and energy harvesting
B) Direct interfacing with industries to solve their specific pollution control problems.
Strategy
NIT Durgapur has an inherent locational advantage. Large and medium scale industries, coal mines, urban centres and agricultural activities coexist in the close vicinity of NIT Durgapur. The proposed centre at first will approach the local organizations like Steel Authority India Ltd., Eastern Coal Field Ltd., Durgapur Project Ltd., Damodar Valley Corporation Ltd., Philips carbon Black Ltd., Graphite India Ltd., ESSAR OIL Ltd., MATIX Fertilizer, Balaji Steel and many others medium scale sponge Iron and Ferro-Alloy Companies, Pharmaceutical Industries, Cement Industries and Chemical Industries. The proposed centre will take initiative to provide solution of Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) and Wastewater Treatment to Durgapur Municipal Corporation and Asansol Municipal Corporation.
Baneficiaries and Stakeholders

Baneficiaries :
The following are the major beneficiaries and stakeholders of the Centre for Research on Environment and Water (CREW) in its teaching and research activity

Potential Baneficiaries :

  • Steel Authority India Ltd., Eastern Coal Field Ltd
  • Durgapur Project Ltd.,
  • Damodar Valley Corporation Ltd.,
  • Philips carbon Black Ltd.,
  • Graphite India Ltd.,
  • ESSAR OIL Ltd.,
  • MATIX Fertilizer,
  • Balaji Steel and many others medium scale sponge Iron and Ferro-Alloy Companies
  • Pharmaceutical, Cement and Chemical Industries Ferro-Alloy
  • Durgapur Municipal Corporation and
  • Asansol Municipal Corporation

 

Stakeholders :

  • MHRD, GOI
  • Different Departments of National Institute of Technology Durgapur

 

Participating Department(s)
  • Department of Earth and Environmental Studies
  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Mathematics
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Biotechnology
  • Department of Civil Engineering
  • Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
  • Dept. of Management Studies
Committee Members
SL. No. Name Designation Department Contact
1 Dr. Rajnarayan Saha (Coordinator) Professor Chemistry (M) 9434788063
Email: rajnarayan.saha@ch.nitdgp.ac.in / rnsahanitd@gmail.com
2 Dr. kaustav Aikat Professor Biotechnology (M): +91-9434788140
Email : kaustav.aikat@bt.nitdgp.ac.in/ aikatk@yahoo.co.in
3 Dr. Kalyan Adhikari Professor Earth and Environmental Studies (M) 9434788091
Email: kalyan.adhikari@ees.nitdgp.ac.in/ k_adh@yahoo.com
4 Dr. Gopinath Halder Professor Chemical (M): 9434788189
Email:gopinath.halder@che.nitdgp.ac.in/ gopinathhaldar@gmail.com
5 Dr. Hirok Chaudhuri Associate Professor Physics (M) :9434789019
Email:hirok.chaudhuri@phy.nitdgp.ac.in/ imhirok@gmail.com
6 Dr. Supriya Pal Associate Professor Civil (M):9434788154
Email : supriya_pal@rediffmail.com/ supriya.pal@ce.nitdgp.ac.in
The Team (CREW)
SL. No. Name of Faculty Member
1 Dr. Aniruddha Gangapadhyay Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Studies
2 Dr. Parimal Pal Professor, Department of Chemical Engg.
3 Dr. Apurba Dey Professor, Department of Biotechnology
4 Dr. Tamal Mandal Professor, Department of Chemical Engg.
5 Dr. Kalyan Adhikari Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Studies
6 Dr. Kaustav Aikat Professor, Department of Biotechnology
7 Dr. Dalia Dasgupta Mandal Professor, Department of Biotechnology
8 Dr. Surabhi Chaudhuri Professor, Department of Biotechnology
9 Dr. Susmita Dutta Professor, Department of Chemical Engg.
10 Dr. Gopinath Halder Professor, Department of Chemical Engg.
11 Dr. Mousumi Roy Professor, Department of Management Studies
12 Dr. Sufia Kazy Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology
13 Dr. Mrinal Kanti Mondal Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engg
14 Dr. Supriya Pal Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engg.
15 Dr. Soumen Basu Associate Professor, Department of Physics
16 Dr. Subhas Chandra Rana Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engg
17 Dr. Bimal Das Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engg
18 Dr. Sankar Ch. Moi Professor, Department of Chemistry
19 Dr. Jitamanyu Chakrabarty Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
20 Dr. Sujit Sankar Panja Associate Professor Professor, Department of Chemistry
21 Dr. Utpal Adhikari Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
22 Dr. Tanmoy Kr. Saha Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
23 Dr. Sujoy Saha Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Sc. & Engg.
24 Dr. Parag Kumar Guhathakurta Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Sc. & Engg
25 Dr. Hirok Chaudhuri Associate Professor, Department of Physics
26 Dr. Sandip Mondal Assistant Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Studies
27 Dr. Rajnarayan Saha Professor, Department of Chemistry