Dr. S. V. Ranade Resume
Part II 1977-1987
After my return to Sangli in 1976, I joined Dr. Subbarao in consultancy activities of Environmental Engineering. Prof. J. M. Gadgil also joined our environmental team. During the period from 1977 to 1987, we completed many research and consultancy projects in water and wastewater treatment and monitoring of Krishna river pollution. Fortunately we had assistance of our post graduate students and we used to give them research projects based on some consultancy assignment . Our major focus of consultancy was on Sugar and Distillery Waste treatment.
Dr. Subbarao developed economical and effective method of treating distillery spent wash using anaerobic lagoons. Though the system is not now considered as full proof solution and had issues of ground and air pollution, it was the only method available at that time and could reduce 90% COD without any power input and its construction cost was very low. Most of the industries adopted this process and we had very busy schedule of meeting their demands of technical advice.
In 1980, we worked as associate consultants to Kirloskar consultants, Pune for their project of Waste Treatment Plant Design for Hindustan Antibiotic factory. The factory did not allow us to study the inside manufacturing process for assessing waste sources under the alibi of secrecy. We had to do waste characterization based on the final outflow. The system was quite elaborate based on activated sludge process and we were involved in the project from planning to commissioning of the plant.
Though Walchand College of Engineering was permitting us to do consultancy, we thought that a separate organization should be established to carry on the work of research and development in this field. Accordingly, we established , a public trust named Environmental Protection Research Foundation in 1981 and developed a public health laboratory with independent staff and technicians.
With the new setup, we could conduct many research activities and training programmes in Environmental Engineering for technical personnel, pollution control officers and decision makers in local bodies.
Following list indicates the courses and training programs conducted by EPRF in the period from 1981 to 1986.
1. Training on \"Environmental Protection in Sugar Industry\" for Water Pollution Control Board Officers from 10th to 22nd April, 1983.
2. Seminar on\"Environmental Protection in Sugar Industry\" for technologists from 1st to 5th July, 1983.
3. Seminar on \"Pollution Problems in Sugar Industry\" for Directors of Sugar Factories on 4th Sept, 1983.(Program conducted in Marathi).
4. Seminar on \"Distillery Waste Management\" from 8th to 12th Oct., 1983.
5. Training on \"Analysis procedures and maintenance Techniques of Effluent Treatment Plant\" for laboratory chemists from 1st to 15th Aug 1984.
6. Seminar on \"Sugar and Distillery Waste Water Treatment - A Critical review\" on 20th and 21st Apr., 1985 at Bombay.
7. Training on \"Analysis Procedures and Maintenance Techniques of Efluent Treatment Plant\" for Laboratory Chemists from 25th June to 4th July, 1985.
8. Training on \"Analysis Procedures and Maintenance Techniques of Effluent Treatment Plant\" for Laboratory Chemists from 1st to 25th Feb., 1986.
9. All India workshop on \"Effluent Treatment Plants Failure Causes and Remedial Measures\" on 26th and 27th Apr., 1987.
10. A Workshop on \"Recent Development in Waste Water Treatment in Industry\" on 8th Dec, at Pune.
11. A workshop on \"Public Awareness on Pollution Control Techniques\" on 15th Dec, 1986 at Thane.
12. Training on \"Analysis Procedures and Maintenance Techniques of Effluent Treatment Plant\" for Laboratory Chemists from 1st to 31st \' Mar., 1987.
13. Workshop on \"Industrial Waste Water Technologies\" from 25th to 31st Mar., 1987 at Sangli.
In 1987, we took a major step in arranging 7 day study tour of directors from Sugar factories to Bangkok and Singapore. The idea was to educate the decision makers about advanced pollution control technologies adopted by distillery and paper industries in those countries. We also conducted two day conference in association with Chulalukong University about waste treatment practices in agro-based industries. We could see spent wash incineration technology and efficient waste treatment plants for pulp and paper units. The 32 participants included many chairmen and directors of sugar factories. The visit gave us broad vision for future technology to be adopted in India.