B Surender Mohan, CMD, NlC, inaugurated a one day workshop on ‘Innovative Materials and Practices in Civil Construction’ held at Institution of Engineers (IE), Neyveli local Centre, recently. During the occasion he said, “In Neyveli mines over burden (soil) is being dumped in heaps, which can be used for forming embankment for laying National Highways and Railway lines.” He further added that the growth in civil engineering should be sustainable and eco-friendly. With the advent of lot of construction activities, time has come to find alternative technologies.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Institution of Engineers, Neyveli local centre and Civil Engineering Division Board, Institution of Engineers(IE) under the aegis of Neyveli lignite Corporation limited. In his inaugural address, the Mohan said that NlC is now selling various materials of overburden like silica sand, fire clay and ball clay for manufacturing glass, ceramic and refractory materials respectively. On the next step, clearing the overburden soil will get additional revenue to the company, he said and informed that the R&D works, like using bottom ash as a substitute for river sand and manufacturing fly ash bricks, will also bring income to the company besides conserving natural resources.
In his felicitation, SK Acharya, director(HR), said that it is time for us to find alternate for sand which is becoming a scarce material. N Ilamparuti, chairman, IE, Neyveli local Centre and executive director (SME and conveyors), NlC welcomed the gathering and briefed the proceedings. P Narayanamurhty, honorary secretary, IE, proposed the vote of thanks. Civil engineers of NlC, Shanmugasundaram, B Sivagnanam, K Chakravarthy and Senthamil Selvan were honoured on this occasion. M Pazhani and B Selvan spoke on the occasion.
S Rajagopal, S Boopathy, directors, executive directors and senior officials of NlC participated in the inaugural session. Civil Engineers from NlC, private construction companies and students of Annamalai University participated as delegates of the workshop.