The TeeJay Factor

Yesterday (20/6/09) has been a good learning experience for me. I was invited to the large residential colony for help assessing the proposed modification of the problematic sewerage treatment plant.

An engineer of the firm, which has been given the contract, made a presentation.

When clarifications were asked about the engineering aspects the replies were shocking.

Q. How was the load determined?

A. The present plant is operating satisfactorily, when we pump out 4 - 6 loads of raw sewarage - so we arrived at the new plant capacity from the old plant capacity

Q. What is satisfactory performance? has the incoming sewage and the out put been analysed?

A. We have lot of experience and our experience tells us that the incoming sewage would have xx COD, TDS etc. We have seen the output and know that the treatment is proper.

Q. How did you arrive at the capacity of the Equalisation tank, and aeration (fluidised bed reactor)?

A. We use PP (presumed polypropylene) balls with large surface area. So we know that the tank capacity is sufficient.

Q. Equalisation tank Capacity has to be based on peak flow. Has this been measured?

A.We have erected number of plants. We assume that the peak load is for 6 hours and all our plants are working well.

Q. Do you have the characteristics of the micro-organisms you are proposing to use? Have you assessed the site condition for its suitability?

A. We have erected and operated number of plants in many apartments. If we have to start explaining the theory to each apartment, then we would only be taking classes. See our plants in operation to know what we can do.

It was confirmed that the person presenting was a "qualified Chemical engineer" - I even offered to sign a "Non Disclosure Agreement" - the required information did not come forth.

What is today's engineering coming to? should not these firms be transparent in what they do? Is it thaat they operate only on thumbrules, without understanding the basic principles behind their process?

How can an engineering offer become " a magic show" ?

Is that the inability of the engineering firms to offer the details coupled with inability of the user to assess the offer in terms engineering has led to this situation? If so, is the decision is going to be based only on previous installations? What would then happen to innovative solutions? New technology? New firms with deep theoretical knowledge?

When is engineering going to come oout of this "hocus focus"

Only time can tell - and real engineers have to find a way!!

I am back to blogging after a really long time.

The thing that enthused me is two calls i had during the past few days.

1. From a journalist friend who had written an article earlier about energy
2. From one of the 100% LED home user.

Both wanted to make their places greener. One of them is implementing the passive sewage treatment for his new house.

The other wants me to help their large colony to set up a garbage source segregation and also wants to implement the passive sewage treatment as a pilot.

For someone wanting to make a small contribution to make our place more environmentally friendly, can there be better rewards than people implementing his ideas?

Thank you friends.

Together, we will make the place a little better.

Many Rural areas in India do not have good lighting, even where electricity is available. The option of solar becomes very expensive, even if CFL is used.

In addition, should not one worry about Mercury from CFL? especially with the poor disposal arrangements?

It is possible to use LED lighting – with or without Solar PV panels – for effective rural lighting – both for homes as well as for street lighting.

But, the cost of the LED lighting is considered uneconomical and the reliability uncertain.

SECO has been working on this problem and has a unique solution for the rural India – which could be of interest to the NGOs working for the upliftment of the rural masses.

ABOUT SECO

SECO is one of the pioneers of LED lighting for illumination in India. SECO has developed a unique method of LED assembly, which requires only minimal skill for assembling the LEDs for manufacture of LED lamp.

A visit to the portal www.secoindia.co.in would give an idea of SECO's commitment and achievements in the field of energy and environment.

Many of my inventions are under processing for grant of patents.

SECO wants to explore the possibilities of using these innovations for improving the lighting in the rural areas at an affordable cost.

The proposal

By licensing of the patent at nominal initial cost and royalty, the LED lamps can be made by rural youth at an affordable cost for use in the rural areas.

As SECO develops more cost effective solutions, these can be upgraded – with minimal skillsets.

While the actual amount of the knowhow fee and the royalty would depend on the NGO's - the final cost to the consumers would be far less than any LED lamp available in the market, with quality comparable to the best in the market – considering value for money.

SECO would provide the knowhow and training, the initial set of jigs/fixtures and also provide components where required. SECO would supply the LEDs, at a cost comparable with the market.

This should enable the NGO to provide rural employment and also earn a reasonable profit for their other activities

Others

SECO is also willing to share their experience in the areas of the roof lawn, passive sewage treatment etc., which can provide economically viable entrepreneurial opportunities in the Rural areas. SECO is also willing to work with the NGOs to work out cost effective solutions for some of the other problems faced by the NGOs in the rural areas.

If someone thinks that getting funds for innovations, and turning it into success seems to be difficult, then they should try and get normal business going - based on innovation - they would face bigger problem.

Unless one has connections -

Let us look at a few of the incidents

Thanks to the real estate boom, my office property is worth more than 20 million - but the no bank would give a loan of even 25% of the value - only 10 lakhs could be sanctioned as the turn over during three years of development is less and there are losses (development costs not capitalised - No Ramalinga Raju to advice). Even the IP rights valued unofficially at 20M USD, or having applied for more than 7 patents can not be covered in the rules. So how can one raise the finance - only option is to go to a rich person or sell property - venture capitalists notwithstanding.

Or try and import machineries at your own cost - To save cost the LED manufacturing machines were sourced from Chinese local manufacturers - No English leaflet - and guess waht does the customs do -

1. The invoice is from a trading house - so the declared value may be lower.
2. The duty concession is for semi conductor machineries only - How do we know that LED (light emitting diode) is a semiconductor

Some unkonwn manufacturer in Timbuctoo declares that the machinery is for semiconductor in glossy leaflet, then they need not question - but if a honest Indian declares it, even after the open inspection the customs would quote Rules. It requires a lot of time and effort and good persons like Mr.Vasu, Asst Commissioner of customs, to apply common-sense and discretionary power - whose promises were probably overruled or he also decided to be one of the Normal "babu"s.

However, one tree does not make the forest. Our Babus will happily accept a wrong import with right papers but not willing to stand up for something which they no is right if the "papers" are not clear.

Can some one estimate the loss our country is incurring because of these paper tigers - can some one ever bell these "tigers"

But, one thing is clear - anyone wanting to have any business with the government, dont bother to be right - Just have the papers right

For some time now, I have not written about energy or environment. with the seminar of BSMED (Bharathiyar University School of Management and Entrepreneur Development, and PanIIT meet, I was away from the routine.

But in the country's environment, more disturbing events also kept me away from writing about the technical subject.

The first was the great gaffe of Anthuley (for those who can remember, the Anthuley of Cement Scam during the days of Indira Gandhi. All those with an iota of grey cells know why he said that and what to expect of the Grand Old Party.

But the thing which disturbed me was the fact that many had sent SMS to the media (which loses no time in asking for polls) supporting Anthuley. So, the politician-Media nexus has succeeded in dividing India's Unity against terrorism.

The second was the acts of the Clowns of the Tamilnadu - A thuggy politician, known for his violent ways, teaming with a group who have named themselves after Periyar (and have probably not read anything about him or his writings) went about the town supporting LTTE - The thuggy even went to the extent of saying that all the laws of the land can put him in Jail for Only One year. No action expected and taken.

The origin of this can be traced to the Opinion Poll report by a leading news paper, that LTTE has enough support base in Tamilnadu (however true it was). Another example of the media and politician managing to justify terrorism.

The third even worse than the Mumbai terrorism - the lynching of a PWD engineer by the criminal MLA of the Behen's Brigade - and as expected, the Behenji only blames the opposition.

Would the media treat this also as terrorism? Is it not more than a chance - Knowing every minute that one can even be killed for not voluntarily contributing to Political parties?

When would media close their ranks and start pressing for the importance of separating the Police from the clutches of politicians? When can we have real anti corruption law, which will give the benefit of doubt to the prosecution instead of the politician?

Any answers?