GOPA Infra supports pollution reduction from industrial treatment plants in India

The GIDC Industrial Estate at Vapi in the State of Gujarat in the western part of India is one of the three project sites of our GIZ-financed project “Sustainable & Environment-Friendly Industrial Production” (SEIP). This site is a critically polluted industrial area, causing severe pollution to the surroundings, including the adjoining river Damanganga. GOPA Infra is providing technically and financially viable solutions to reduce the environmental impact in cooperation with the industries.

Dr Ulrich Schmitz from GOPA Infra, Germany, visited GIDC Industrial Estate Vapi for the second time, together with the local GIZ SEIP cell. This formed part of the activities to suggest improvements for wastewater treatment processes in Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) in selected industries.

His one-week trip included meetings, field visits and discussions on the results of samples collected and findings during his first visit in February. These came from ten ETPs where the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) identified problems in keeping one or more pollution-control parameters within limit. Questionnaires, design documents, data records and visual inspection enabled the expert to assess the condition and performance of each plant. He personally met the staff of each industrial branch, and made suggestions for improving their ETPs: for example, optimising the aeration tank; applying the correct chemical dosage to improve the settling of sludge; and new, tertiary treatment technology to reduce colour and total dissolved solids.

A workshop was arranged with GPCB at Vapi. The thirty-five participants gained ideas on improvements that industries can bring about in their ETPs.

On the basis of inputs by the German expert, the GIZ will come up with suggestions for improvement measures, and also for future technologies which can be implemented in similar industries.