Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Dr. Harshavardhan will be launching three important center’s set up by the Department of Science and Technology, nucleated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) on 25th January 2019 at IIT Madras in Chennai.
The first of these is the establishment of DST –IITM Solar Energy Harnessing Centre. The center will focus on a wide range of research and technology development activities such as silicon solar cells that promise high efficiency and are suited for Indian conditions. The network of researchers engaged in center comprised of scientists from IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, Anna University, ICT-Mumbai, BHEL, and KGDS, which will be further extended. The intention is to generate a platform, that can be enlarged readily to reinforce the knowledge ecosystem. The center is probable to be a real transformation agent in the power landscape of India. Accordingly, the association will be self-assured to tackle the sustainability needs in the Make in India initiative.
Second in line is the DST-IITM water – IC for Sutram of Easy water which has been organized with an objective to commence synchronized research and training programs on various issues related to wastewater management, water treatment, stormwater management , distribution and collection systems.
This multi-institutional Virtual Centre will be looking into a sustainable approach for water resources protection and growth through wastewater treatment and reprocess and stormwater management. The Centre will provide a unique opportunity for the various groups in different premier organizations working in the area of wastewater management, water treatment, sensor development and stormwater management to collaborate and work in synergized manner to ensure sufficient, safe, consistent and sustainable sources of drinking water for rural and urban India and process water for tremendously polluting and water-intensive industries, throughout research, technology development and capacity building.
The third one would be the Testbed on Solar thermal desalination solutions which are being established by IIT Madras and Imperial KGDS as solution providers in Naripaaiyur, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu with the objective to transport customized technological solutions to deal with common water challenges in the arid coastal village discovered on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. The development would offer customized technological water solution to offer potable water to coastal sectors utilizng solar power.