neeri report

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Department Of Electronics &
Telcommunication
Industry Project Report On
N.E.E.R.I.
Prepared By-
Name: -Tejas R. Dhait
Roll No.: -173
Reg. No.: -20010303
Section: -B

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What is N.E.E.R.I.?
The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is a
research institute created and funded by Government of India. It was established
in Nagpur in the year 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal,
communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and
occupational diseases found common in post-independent India.
NEERI is a pioneer laboratory in the field of environmental science and
engineering and part of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). NEERI
has five zonal laboratories at Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
NEERI falls under the Ministry of Science and Technology (India) of the central
government.The NEERI is an important partner organisation in India's POPs
National Implementation Plan (NIP).[4]
The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur was
established in 1958 as Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute
(CPHERI), when environmental concerns were limited to human health with a
focus on water supply/sewage disposal/ communicable diseases and to some
extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases. The chemical and
biological solutions to address these problems were simple, though challenging.
However, slowly worldwide public awareness on the contamination of the
environment on regional to global scale started getting attention in 1970's.
Shrimati Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, rechristened the
Institute as National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in the
year 1974. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI),
Nagpur is devoted to research and innovations in environmental science and
engineering besides solving a range of problems posed by industry, government
and public.

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Projects by N.E.E.R.I. : -
1. Environmental monitoring : -
One of the most significant R&D thrust areas of CSIR-NEERI is
environmental monitoring. The Institute is operating a nation-wide air quality
monitoring network since 1978. The programme sponsored by the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) since 1990 has generated a time series data on air
quality for ten major Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Mumbai and Nagpur. The Institute has
developed an extensive database for pollutants such as inhalable dust, sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, lead and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons. Air pollution monitoring is being done in terms of urban
ambient air quality, industrial air quality / fugitive emission, vehicle emission
monitoring and stack monitoring. Air quality modelling is being done in terms of
source dispersion modelling, point industrial emission, vehicular emission and
area source emission, prediction of ambient air quality under different scenario in
space and time, receptor modelling of particulate matter for source
apportionment analysis and air quality trend analysis using statistical and neural
network tools. The Institute is also involved in design and development of air
pollution control systems in terms of emissions generation, treatment studies and
design of air pollution control systems for small/medium scale industries. R & D
activities in the area of environmental monitoring include development of
efficient analytical techniques and low cost instruments, designing of national
monitoring networks, development of national databases and training of
manpower. The emphasis on development and application of monitoring
techniques is now towards the use of PCR and gene probes for water quality
monitoring, use of biological indicators for pollution monitoring and application of
remote sensing and GIS. A portable arsenic estimation field kit has been
developed by the Institute which can measure arsenic concentration below the
maximum permissible limit of 10 ppb.

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2. Environmental biotechnology and genomics : -
The Institute is involved in R&D studies related to
environmental biotechnology and subsequent application of biotechnology based
solutions for environmental problems and sustainable development. The Institute
is pursuing multidisciplinary R&D in fundamental and applied areas of
environmental biotechnology by exploiting knowledge base from microbiology,
biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, chemical and environmental
engineering disciplines. The Institute aims at developing eco-friendly
biotechnological processes targeting societal and industrial needs to address
issues related to restoration of environmental quality, bioremediation/waste
treatment, waste to wealth, climate change mitigation etc. R & D activities in the
field of environmental biotechnology have been undertaken related to the
development and demonstration of technologies for substitution of non-
renewable resource base with renewable resources, recycle and reuse of
industrial and domestic wastewater, and utilization of industrial wastes and
biomass for commercial production of chemicals. R & D studies on environmental
biotechnology have led to the development of a microbial consortium to degrade
persistent synthetic chlorinated cyclodiene and endosulfan.
The Institute is involved in R&D studies related to the existence, interaction, and
survival of different gene pools with reference to each other in complex
ecosystems. Monitoring tools with versatile computer modelling and simulation
techniques have enabled the Institute to understand and explore a more holistic
view of the interrelated aspects of environmental systems. At molecular level,
the Institute carries out the study of structure, function, and interaction of the
different gene pools, which are the constituents of the biogeochemical cycles of
different components of the ecosystem. The Institute covers the study of either of
the environmental factors, which can influence any life form including humans,
plants, animals, and microorganisms.
3. Environmental impact and risk assessment : -
CSIR-NEERI ensures integration of environmental and socio-
economic concerns in developmental planning by identifying environmental,

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biological and socio-economic impacts of proposed development projects and
adopting remedial or mitigation measures including risk assessment. The studies
carried out by the Institute enabled the developers and the government to abate
the economic, social and environmental (including human health) impacts and
develop mitigation measures. The Institute so far carried out environmental
impact and risk assessment studies for more than 500 developmental projects
proposed by various industries such as petrochemicals, oil & natural gas,
refineries, mining, power plants (thermal, hydro and nuclear), chemicals and
fertilizers, ports & harbours, irrigation and infrastructure, etc. EIA studies carried
out by the Institute focused on analysis of concepts, approaches, methodology
and evaluation processes; use of new technology development tools to enhance
and strengthen the procedures and evaluation processes for impact assessment
and recommendation with appropriate environmental management plan for
sustainable development.
4. Environmental systems design & modelling : -
This Institute is involved in development and application of
numerical models for prediction of environmental quality; development and
application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS)
based models and analytical tools for natural resources management;
development and application of environmental systems design, detailed
engineering, costing and drawings for the design of water supply and sewerage
systems; development and application of environmental systems design, detailed
engineering, costing and drawings for the design of water and wastewater
treatment systems; application of advanced numerical and graphics tools (SPSS,
MATLAB, ANN etc.) for environmental systems analysis and management.
5. Water technology and management : -
The Institute is involved in the following R&D activities:
environmental impact assessment and delineation of environmental management
plan of water resources development projects; water conservation and
environmental protection of the water bodies; eco-restoration of impounded
surface water bodies and downstream system; limnological studies of surface

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water bodies; assessment of groundwater contamination from anthropogenic
stresses; development of technique and methodology for exploration, assessment
and management of groundwater in hard rock areas; delineation of contaminated
region by geophysical methods, non-invasive methods in characterization of
water and land environment; surveillance of drinking water quality; performance
evaluation of water treatment facilities; technology development for
improvement of water quality; development of analytical techniques for water
quality assessment; monitoring and management of priority organic pollutants
(POPs) and other pollutants; evaluation of water resources for health related
water quality parameters; water quality management for pesticides
contamination; restoration and remediation of degraded land; treatment of urban
and industrial wastewater; catchment area treatment plan; techno-economic
feasibility of steep slope stabilization through bio-engineering techniques; green
belt development - land use planning; crop loss assessment due to various
anthropocentric activities; protection of natural sources; and assessment of
salinity ingress in coastal areas. The technology developed by CSIR-NEERI helped
to set-up solar electrolytic defluoridation plants at various fluoride affected
regions in the country. This technology is ensuring safe drinking water to the local
people. The Institute has developed a water purification system – ‘NEERI ZAR’
suitable for potable water supply particularly under emergency situations like
floods, heavy rainfall, or cyclones, and does not require electric supply.
6.Solid & hazardous waste management : -
The Institute is involved in the following R&D activities in the
area of solid & hazardous waste management: development of rapid composting
technologies; waste to energy research; recycled organics utilization; monitoring
of green house gas (GHG) emissions from landfills; quantification and
characterization of solid waste; designing of secure landfills; eco-toxicological
studies on landfill leachates; occupational health risk assessment on municipal
solid waste (MSW) workers; transportation system designing for MSW
transportation; E-waste management; cleaner technologies and waste
minimization; recycling and reuse of MSW; bio-medical waste management;
identification of hazardous waste streams; quantification and characterization of
hazardous waste; development of treatment systems; and source reduction and

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recycling. The scientists are trying to develop a cost-effective process for bio-
methanation of municipal solid waste with two-phase approach to generate bio-
energy from the municipal solid waste.
CSIR-NEERI helped Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) in remediation of its mercury
contaminated site at Kodaikanal by providing a suitable technology. The Institute
has also given an effective technological solution for environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes generated by NICOMET Industries Ltd.
7. Wastewater treatment technologies : -
CSIR-NEERI has been instrumental in designing and
commissioning Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for homogenous and
heterogeneous industrial clusters in the country. CETPs designed and
commissioned by CSIR-NEERI at various industrial clusters helped in prevention of
water and soil pollution. 767 small scale industrial units in Pali, 249 in Balotra, and
over 2000 industrial units in NCT of Delhi revived due to CETPs and as a result the
employment of thousands of workers was protected, since these industrial units
were on the verge of closure due to non-compliance of the pollution prevention
norms. CETPs also helped in achieving ‘Economics of Scale’ in waste treatment,
thereby reducing the cost of pollution abatement. CSIR-NEERI has carried out
feasibility assessment studies of CETPs including identification of types and
volumes of wastes generated, estimation of future waste loads, identification of
treatment options, and evaluation of cleaner technologies. It has provided
treatment options for zero liquid discharge for wastewater management for
CETPs of textile industries in Tirupur and Ludhiana. Recently, the Institute has
developed a two-stage bio-oxidation (TSB) process for treatment of high COD and
ammonia bearing wastewater through ‘separated heterotrophic-autotrophic
reactions’. This process eliminates chemical treatment and denitrification step.
TSB process is implemented on large scale at Nagarjuna Agrochemical Limited,
Srikakulam, A. P. CSIR-NEERI developed a design for the treatment and zero
discharge of treated effluent of automobile industry through High Rate
Transpiration System (HRTS) and this technology has been implemented at M/s
Mahindra Vehicle Manufacture Limited, Pune. The Institute has developed a

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‘phytorid sewage treatment technology’ which involves a constructed wetland
exclusively designed for the treatment of municipal, urban, agricultural and
industrial wastewater. This technology has been implemented by various
industries and urban local bodies in the country.
8. Environmental policy analysis : -
CSIR-NEERI has been instrumental in formulation of
environmental policies by carrying out analyses of existing policies against the
international commitments and prevailing socio-economic conditions. The
Institute has recommended various mechanisms so as to devise policy, planning,
legal and informational measures for sustainable development. The Institute has
been involved in the development of information packages on cleaner
technologies for industrial production. From time to time the Institute has also
been directed by the courts to provide inspection reports on various projects and
review the existing enviro-legal framework
Clients And Range of N.E.E.R.I. : -
Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Mumbai
and Nagpur.
Skill development : -
The Institute has established a Centre for Skill Development where certificate
courses will be conducted in the domains of environmental impact assessment,
carrying capacity, and water quality monitoring & assessment