Some thoughts on ganga rejuvenation

Some thoughts on Some thoughts on

GangaGangaGangaGangaRejuvenationRejuvenation

Concept:

D K Singhal

[email protected]

River River GangaGanga….….

Some Thoughts on Ganga Rejuvenation, October 2014

& its Problems…& its Problems…

� Foreign waste (polythene, wood, used items etc.

� Effluents from various industries

◦ BOD◦ BOD

◦ COD

◦ Color


Foreign WasteForeign Waste


Foreign WasteForeign Waste

� The best way to tackle this problem is to discourage throwing of garbage etc. in Ganga.

� The not so bad part for foreign waste is � The not so bad part for foreign waste is that it is generally of bigger size, and hence, it is very easy to remove it using good screening systems.


Sewage & Industrial EffluentSewage & Industrial Effluent

� The biggest problem is from sewage, municipal waste and effluent from different industries.

� This effluent contains pollutants which � This effluent contains pollutants which result in increase in BOD, COD.


GangaGanga! Not just a River.! Not just a River.


GangaGanga in Natural Flowin Natural Flow


Natural FlowNatural Flow

� As the natural flow path is partly obstructed by rocks, boulders etc,. a strong turbulence is created, which results in increased dissolved oxygen in results in increased dissolved oxygen in water.

� Water of river Ganga is said to contain good bacteria which, with the help of this dissolved oxygen, help in removing impurities of water.


Natural FlowNatural Flow

� For centuries, the situation had been the same, but with time, pollutants increased in number.

� Slowly and slowly, the flow is also being stabilized, and the process of oxygen stabilized, and the process of oxygen dissolving is reduced.

� This, clubbed with, increased pollution load from municipal waste, different industries and inadequate sewage treatment plants, has further increased the problem.


Less Turbulence!Less Turbulence!

Due to less turbulence, dissolved oxygen levels fall rapidly,Due to less turbulence, dissolved oxygen levels fall rapidly,which can be seen in different reports. which can be seen in different reports.


What Can be Done?What Can be Done?

� If we are able to (artificially) induce oxygen to water, this will result in increased availability of oxygen for the bacteria, and BOD and COD can be bacteria, and BOD and COD can be dropped down.

� The whole river acts as an aeration basin on a conventional ETP with ‘Activated Sludge Process’.


Adding OxygenAdding Oxygen

� When we add air to water, DO (Dissolved Oxygen) content in the water rises. Good (aerobic) bacteria with the help of this dissolved oxygen, reduce help of this dissolved oxygen, reduce BOD and COD, thus purifying water.

� Here, the idea is to increase DO levels.


Adding AirAdding Air

� For this purpose, I suggest installation of fine bubble air diffusers at different locations.

� Fine bubbles help in two ways-� Fine bubbles help in two ways-

◦ The bubble comes up slowly, thus resulting in more residence time in water.

◦ The bubbles have much more specific surface

� This way, the oxygen transfer efficiency of fine bubble diffuser is high.


Diffusers in ActionDiffusers in Action


Operation of Diffuser StationOperation of Diffuser Station

� Well, to supply air to these diffusers, we need blowers/compressors and these need electricity to run.

� This way, mere installation of such units is � This way, mere installation of such units is not sufficient, we need to continuously monitor the performance and invest regularly.

� From where, we can get the money for this?


DonationsDonations


DonationsDonations

� Today, a lot of people are feeling ‘sad’ over increased money with the temples collected by them as donation.

� Often we hear voices that this money � Often we hear voices that this money should be used for charity purpose.

� No, I am not talking of getting money from temples.


GangaGanga DonationsDonations

� My idea is to set up such one station (as trial station) with the donations obtained from some well wisher of Ganga, who can jointly fund the entire investment for a jointly fund the entire investment for a single station.

� The electricity shall be supplied at normal prevailing rates by the state electricity board, but through a prepaid meter.


The First The First GangaGanga TempleTemple

� The first station, may even be named as ‘GangaTemple’, may be set up entirely from a corporate donar who wishes to fund entire investment for the same, with fund entire investment for the same, with one year electricity and operational expenses.

� After it becomes functional, devotees may donate for further operations.


Donate Online!Donate Online!

� There will be a system that the prepaid meter present reading, and money deposited shall be displayed online. Devotees may see the balance on internet. If they wish, they may donate internet. If they wish, they may donate money for this purpose also.

� To see the system working a real time view shall be uploaded to internet. Every body knows that his donation is directly going for good for our Mother Ganga.


For DevoteesFor Devotees

� Seeing the performance is really an important aspect. Many devotees like to see their name for the donations they have made.

� When a devotee donates money, � When a devotee donates money, depending on the amount donated and hourly charges of electricity, a time slot is allotted to him, which is displayed on the respective webpage and on an electronic sign board near the station.


Evaluating PerformanceEvaluating Performance

� Performance evaluation includes the followings◦ A dedicated platform where devotees can go and

see rising air bubbles themselves.

◦ Online display of DO levels at inlet and outlet ◦ Online display of DO levels at inlet and outlet streams to the station.

◦ Display of total oxygen supplied so far to river Ganga.

� After successful performance, these stations may be developed further as “GangaTemple”.


ScalingScaling

� One can understand only one station will not be sufficient for the 2500 Km stretch of Ganga.

� We shall need to develop many such stations.stations.

� Development of a single such station may cost around Rs. 30-40 L or so., with almost similar amount for annual electricity cum operating/maintenance charges.


ScalingScaling

� Location of initial ‘Oxygen Charger’ station can be chosen where the DO level is minimum. After successful performance of the same, more stations performance of the same, more stations may be added.


My ContributionMy Contribution

� While working on the idea, and preparing this presentation, I have decided that I shall donate at one day of my annual income for this work, if work is done on income for this work, if work is done on this project.


A RequestA Request

� Please do share this presentation if you really feel that it is a good idea and you are ready to donate at least one day of your income for this holy one day of your income for this holy cause of River Ganga rejuvenation.


Thank You.Thank You.


About the Author:

Born in 1968, D K Singhal is B.E., M.E. (Pulp & Paper, 1993) from Deptt. of Paper Technology, University of Roorkee (now IIT, Roorkee). He is a Certified Energy Auditor and Chartered Engineer also.

With nearly 7 dozen publications, he has emphasized on development of low cost technologies and management practices for quality and profitability improvement. With publications on slideshare.net, energymanagertraining.com, IPPTA and paperonweb.com, he is also serving IPPTA as a member of Editorial Board.

An initiative by D K Singhal, a cyber campaign initiated against unjustified targeting An initiative by D K Singhal, a cyber campaign initiated against unjustified targeting of paper industry by “Idea” mobile, in their “Sirjee” advertisement campaign, after which this advertisement was taken off air.

He also moderated a Yahoo group, “PaperTechnology” with nearly 360 members from India and abroad to discuss problems related to pulp & paper making for five years. The group now is on facebook platform with nearly 800 members.

He can be contacted at [email protected]


Environment

Some thoughts on ganga rejuvenation