Report On Activites :

A BRIEF REPORT ON
22ND NATIONAL CONVENTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

The Institution of Engineers (India), Assam State Centre organized the prestigious annual event of the Institution the 22nd National Convention of Mechanical Engineers on the theme “Energy Technologies – Strategies for Optimal Utilization of Natural Resources” on 9 - 10 September 2006 at Guwahati in collaboration with the Centre for Energy, IIT Guwahati.

Hon’ble Minister of Industry, Commerce & Power, Govt. of Asom, Shri Pradyut Bordoloi has kindly consented to grace the Inaugural Session of the Convention as the Chief Guest.

In his speech, Dr. Bordoloi expressed that Sustained Rural Energy planning by utilizing rural energy sources is a key factor to provide constant electricity supply to rural areas as well as urban areas. He urged upon the engineers to provide a roadmap and identify different strategies and technologies for the better use of natural resources of this area so as to harness our resources in an efficient manner.

The Keynote Address on the main theme was delivered by Dr. S Basu, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. On the other hand the State of the Art Lecture was delivered by Shri J K Talukdar, Director (HR & BD), Oil India Ltd, New Delhi.

Dr. N Mate, Consultant, Kirloskar Oil Engines ltd., Pune delivered the Dr. S C Bhattacharyya Memorial Lecture on “Renewable Energy Technologies and Strategies for Conserving Natural Resources” on 10 September 2006 where as Dr. S P Luthra Memorial Lecture was delivered by Dr. S C Bhattacharyya, Former Professor of Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok on “Reflections on Energy, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency” on 9 September 2006.

During the Convention two Eminent Mechanical Engineers viz Er. J K Talukdar, Director (HR & BD), Oil India Ltd, New Delhi and Prof. S C Bhattacharyya, Special Advisor, International Energy Initiative, Kolkata & Former Professor of Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok were felicitated on 9th September 2006 for their outstanding services in the field of mechanical engineering.

In the Board Meeting of the Mechanical Engineering Division held on 9 September 2006, eight Council Members from different parts of the Country were present. All total 18(eighteen) technical papers were presented in three Technical Sessions held during two-day convention.

In the Valedictory session, the Convenor of the Technical Committee briefly reported about important points of the technical sessions. The Chairman, Dr. P K Goswami concluded the session with his presidential speech. In the evening a Cultural Show, performed by the Songs and Drama Division of the Ministry of Information Broadcasting, Govt. of India was organized for entertainment of delegates & guests coming from different parts of the Country.

Workshop on `National Building Code of India 2005’ jointly organized by
The Institution of Engineers (India) and Bureau of Indian Standards
at Guwahati on 29 & 30 November 2007

As a part of the series of workshops being organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for implementation and dissemination of information about the National Building Code of India 2005, a Workshop on NBC 2005 (15th in the series) was organized jointly by BIS and the Institution of Enginees (India), Assam State Centre on 29 & 30 November 2007 in Guwahati.

The Workshop was inaugurated by Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Guwahati Development Department, Science & Technology, etc, Govt of Assam. Dr Sarma spoke about Government’s resolve to transform Guwahati into a modern city and an example of safe and sustainable development. While informing that some progress has already been made in implementation of this revised Code, NBC 2005, he assured that the Code would be effectively implemented in the State of Assam. He said that NBC 2005 is one of the finest codes and BIS has responded to the national need by keeping it updated. He said, it is now necessary to create more and more awareness about the Code at all levels, for which BIS has rightly taken up a massive drive. He emphasized that the Code has all the ingredients for protecting the society at large with respect to quality, health and safety and it must be implemented by the authorities and used by building professionals and education institutions.

Shri Shiv Kumar, General Manager (Construction), N.F. Railway, Guwahati was the Guest of Honour. He laid emphasis on adoption of the Code by all the Govt and private construction agencies including Railways, PWD, Water Resources Department, Irrigation Department and private builders and developers for ensuring safe and efficient constructions. He informed that Indian Railways has already taken necessay steps in this direction.

Earlier Shri J.N. Sharma, Organizing Secretary of the Workshop welcomed the dignitaries. Shri A.K. Mitra, Chairman, The Institution of Engineers (India), Assam State Centre informed about the activities of IE(I) and the gave background information about organization of this Workshop. Shri V. Suresh, Vice Chairman, NBC Technical Committee informed about the actions necessary at state level for revising and revamping the local building byelaws and other regulatory media in line with NBC 2005. Shri Sanjay Pant, Joint Director, Bureau of Indian Standards and Member Secretary, National Building Code Technical Committee of BIS gave the programme objectives and about the framework of the Code brought out after extensive work by the National Building Code Technical Committee of BIS under the Chairmanship of Padmashri Dr. H.C. Visvesvaraya. Briefly informing about the genesis of the Code in 1970 at the instance of Planning Commission and subsequent revisions thereof, Shri Pant brought out the important dimensions of actual implementation of NBC 2005 so that all the improvements and technological developments as reflected in the Code could percolate down to common masses. He informed about the efforts made by BIS by approaching the Central Government, all the State Governments, Housing Finance Institutions, Academic Institutions, etc for the purpose. He brought out as to how best our aim of safe and sustainable habitat could be achieved through proper direction and how NBC 2005 could be effectively utilized for the purpose, while also keeping this National Code updated. Prof P.C. Baruah, Hony. Secretary, The Institution of Engineers (India), Assam State Centre gave vote of thanks.

In the Technical Sessions, the various speakers presented details about different parts and sections of the Code and particularly explained the important modifications made in this revision. Shri Sanjay Pant, in the first technical session gave an overview of NBC 2005 including the application and philosophy of 26 chapters covered under 11 parts and section/subsections thereunder. Bringing home the point that it is not the disaster but the badly planned, designed and constructed buildings that kill people, he explained how the code can be effectively utilized at state level by the authorities and govt. and private construction agencies to help erect safe buildings and protect life and property of our citizens particularly in the event of a natural calamity. Shri V. Suresh, former CMD, HUDCO explained the provisions on administration, development control rules and general building requirements and implementation aspects of overall provisions of NBC 2005 by the state authorities. Shri S.K. Dheri, an expert in fire safety explained how the codal provisions could be utilized to plan and construct buildings which are safe in the event of fire by appropriately implementing the provisions on fire prevention, life safety and fire protection measures given in the Code. He said, these are particularly important for cities like Guwahati, where more and more malls, multiplexes and high rise buildings are coming up. Dr Chandan Ghosh from National Institute of Disaster Management explained about the applicability of the provisions of NBC 2005 for foundation design and landslide mitigation in the hilly states of North-East. Shri K.S. Pruthi, former Scientist, FRI, Dehradun explained the provisions on design and construction of building using timber and bamboo. He emphasized the need to effectively put into use bamboo which is a versatile building material and abundantly available in North-Eastern region of the country particularly Assam. It is most environment friendly energy efficient building material, being a renewable resource with low gestation period. Dr A.K. Mittal, an expert in structural design gave a detailed presentation on structural design of buildings for safety against various loads, forces and effects including the natural disasters like earthquake. During the technical sessions, lot of interactive discussions were held with the participants and large number of queries of the delegates on various technical and implementation related aspects were duly answered. Shri K.D. Debkrori as Chairman of the Technical Sessions conducted all the technical sessions effectively.

The Concluding Session was chaired by Shri A.K. Bhutani, Commissioner & Secretary, Guwahati Development Deptt, Govt of Assam who emphasized that it was essential to implement the provisions of NBC 2005 in letter and spirit so that the technological developments percolate down to poorest of the poor. Shri Bhutani assured early and effective implementation of the Code by the Govt. As the Code contains all the essential provisions for safe design and construction of building in rural as well as the urban areas and plains and hilly regions, the Workshop strongly recommended for its effective implementation in the state of Assam and other North Eastern States. The delegates thanked IE(I) and BIS for arranging such a comprehensive exercise of dissemination of information about the revised Building Code. The following recommendations were emerged:

• The local building byelaws and other regulatory media in the State should be completely reviewed and revised to bring the same in line with the revised NBC 2005.

• The existing State PWD specifications, codes and manuals should be revised in line with NBC 2005.

• The Master Plan should also be reflective of the concerns of NBC 2005.

• Efforts should be made for capacity building/training of all building professionals and work force involved in building construction activity.

• The curriculum of civil engineering and architecture should be upgraded to encompass NBC 2005 so as to ensure proper understanding and training of the provisions of the Building Code right from academic level.

Shri A.K. Mitra, Chairman, IE(I), Assam State Centre informed that the Institution will follow up with the Govt and other concerned authorities for the early implementation of the above recommendations.

About 150 delegates representing local bodies/authorities such as Town and Country Planning Department, Govt of Assam, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, Durgapur Municipal Corporation; govt construction departments/agencies such as PWD, Govt of Assam, Irrigation Deptt, Govt of Assam, Water Resources Deptt, Govt of Assam, Assam State Electricity Board, North-East Frontier Railway, PHE Deptt, Govt of Assam; private construction agencies; consulting organizations/ building professionals such as architects, engineers, town planners, valuers; public sector enterprises such as Assam Police Housing Corporation; other important organizations, R&D institutions and academic institutions such as CBRI Rorkee, IIT Guwahati, Assam Engineering College, Guwahati, etc participated in the above highly successful Workshop.

Dr S.K. Kakoty, Jt Hony Secretary, IE(I), Assam State Centre thanked all the dignitaries and the delegates for making it convenient to participate in this important national event.