CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) celebrated its 63 rd NEERI foundation day on 8 April 2021. The Chief Guest Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways / Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) addressed the staff of CSIR- NEERI as well as invitees on this occasion. Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary, DSIR, Dr. Jitendra J. Jadhav, Director, CSIR-NAL, and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director, CSIR-NEERI were also present on this occasion.
Speaking on the occasion of 63rd NEERI Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR- NEERI, the Hon’ble Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for the deployment of green technologies to improve environment and economy. He praised the exceptional contributions of CSIR-NEERI made to environment and society involving Namami Gange Programme and Green National Highways Corridor Project. He urged CSIR to extend the outcome of research for betterment of the society through communication, coordination and cooperation.
He advised that the social media can be very effective tool in this regard. He stressed on the need to develop economically viable green hydrogen as a clean energy. It is encouraging to see that the CSIR Institutes including CSIR-NEERI are also striving to develop green technologies in line with the Government’s mission to achieve sustainable development, he added.
Gadkari highlighted the prospects of adding value to carbon dioxide while managing solid and liquid waste. He suggested to develop specific training programmes in the area of tree transplantation and its management to generate employment and also support environment. He advised CSIR to contribute more for MSMEs as they are engines of our economy to achieve sustainable development. He also urged DG-CSIR to share knowledge to address road sector, farm sector and waste management.
The minister urged citizens to transform themselves as responsible consumers for managing the transition to a green economy. The government is aiming ‘Green Growth’ as an ambition and challenge to achieve sustainable development.
The BioSEM Lab (Biological Solutions for Environmental Management Lab) and The Energy and Resource Management Facility, wherein the R&D activities for sustainable energy management and exploring the interrelated aspects of environmental systems will be taken up, were dedicated to the nation.
BioSEM Lab will help in resolving bottleneck issues related to large-scale application of microorganisms to detoxify, degrade, and remove environmental contaminants. The Energy and Resource Management (ERM) Facility will focus on the generation and efficient utilization of cleaner energy, rural energy needs, and development of energy efficient environmental technologies with minimum footprint. The facilities will be instrumental in developing and promoting economic and environment-friendly clean and green technologies in the country.
Dr. Mande, DG-CSIR briefed about the immense contributions of CSIR-NEERI towards society, industry and judiciary. He informed that CSIR-NEERI is involved in sewage surveillance for COVID-19, in association with CSIR-CCMB. He also declared that CSIR has given in-principle approval to set up National Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture, Use and Storage at CSIR-NEERI.
Dr. Jadhav, Director, CSIR-NAL elucidated the environmental concerns of aviation sector wherein waste management and indoor air quality are of utmost importance. R& D challenges in this sector should be taken up by CSIR-NEERI scientists. He also highlighted the work of lake cleaning using JALDOST, which is being implemented in Bangalore and Niwari of UP.
Dr. Rakesh Kumar outlined the R& D journey performed by CSIR-NEERI since last 63 years with some notable contributions. He assured that CSIR-NEERI will emerge as a global leader in the area of environmental science and engineering as various steps have already been taken up for repositioning.
NEERI Foundation Day Awards were announced on this occasion to be given to the CSIR-NEERI staff for their significant contributions. Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred to Shri Baba Deshpande for his lifelong service to the society. Dr. J. P. Gupta also received Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong contribution to Indian Chemical Industry and Environment. The names of the winning students of the quiz and storyboard competition were also announced. In Category I: Class VIII-X, Anjali N Sonekar, CDS, Nagpur to get first prize, second prize to be shared by Aarush Das Bansiwal, DPS, Nagpur and Sushrut Gajanan Khadse, NEERI Modern School, and third prize to receive by Sidhi Sontakke, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Wardha. In Category II: Class XI-XII, Divya Bhande, Centre Point School, Nagpur to get first prize, second prize to be conferred to Adarsh Upadhyay, Kendriya Vidyalaya-CISF, Bhilai; and third prize to receive by Nidhi Thakur, St. Ursula School, Nagpur.
Dr. Atya Kapley, Sr. Principal Scientist & Head, DRC, CSIR-NEERI delivered the welcome address and Dr. A N Vaidya, Chief Scientist & Head, CHWMD, CSIR-NEERI proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Amit Bansiwal, Sr. Principal Scientist & Head, SEAF, CSIR-NEERI announced the NEERI Foundation Day Awards.
