INDSTT SURGES AHEAD

It is our proud privilege to present the No Dig India journal’s Souvenir issue to you. It is a very important seminar for IndSTT as this has come at the juncture when JnNURM projects have just started opening up and people internationally have realized that the Trenchless elephant also has finally stirred and that’s why the seminar, as you would notice, has received an all round success despite being declared at the fag end of the financial year 2006~07. The overwhelming support that IndSTT has received for this event has been unprecedented. Causes for this are also are quite evident. This event, unlike similar shows elsewhere in other parts of world, banks on the real projects. JnNURM, which is a US$ 28 billion project mission set is the mainstay for the confidence with which the IndSTT team did the marketing and the results are now available for all to see.

This event is expected to accelerate the process of ingress of Trenchless Techniques. IndSTT is supported in this by CIDC and ICC. In addition several international organizations like S&P Consult and IKT several manufacturers like Vermeer, DCI, Herrenknecht, Telcon, Robbins, VMT or rehabilitation majors like Onsite, and many contracting organizations have realized the potential of Indian Trenchless Markets and have supported this event. On behalf of the entire IndSTT team I would like to thank all our supporters without whom this show was not possible.

For uninformed, IndSTT had released the last issue of No Dig India Journal at Gelsenkirchen, Germany on 14th February during the Pipe Jacking Symposium at IKT. The event was an informative desertion on the various aspects of pipe jacking activities and the behaviour of the jacked pipe string under different external conditions. As part of the symposium documentation we have brought back a set of articles and presentations to New Delhi. These can be used by engineers desirous to know these effects of pipe jacking who can also use these findings in their design activities.

IKT had invited IndSTT to participate in this Symposium so that the Indian stakeholders can be sensitized about latest developments in the pipe jacking engineering. The invitation naturally has significance since the Indian pipejacking market is now opening up to international service, equipment, and material providers in a major way. IndSTT was invited to make a presentation about Microtunneling business opportunities in our part of world. It is a pleasure to mention here that our presentation was well received and a major support to our event has come from Europe on account of our presentation and networking activities.

As a major HRD activity, IndSTT in association with S&P Consult has initiated the first course on Trenchless Technology titled Trenchless 101 based on web platform and video conferencing with S&P mode of training. It has been a well received course and several more technique related courses like Pipe bursting, CIPP, Microtunneling and others would be launched in times to come.

On regulatory front an association with IKT is being proposed where technical assistance to address quality and safety related issues for the Trenchless Technology projects.

At the end of my last editorial I had indicated a proposition about testing and certifying HDD drillers. It was a pleasant moment for us when I received compliments from some of the HDD dealers from Singapore who indicated that the thought needs to be operationalized on an urgent basis. We have taken several actions like providing the Minimum Vocational Qualification Standards to various stakeholders, invitations to initiate the training activities in this field so that qualified operators are available in sufficient numbers. It is my pleasure to intimate you that we, jointly with the Department of Technical Education, Government of Haryana, are planning to initiate a six month Post Diploma course in Trenchless at various Haryana polytechnics and hope that this course would be able to provide trained manpower to certain extent. Similar initiatives for other states are on anvil and our stakeholders are solicited to join this initiative in their regions.

In addition to the machine operators another important issue I would like to raise in this editorial is the lack of training and certification of the persons engaged for working in confined spaces and their supervisors. Confined space entry programmes is the next important issue we looking at in the HRD initiative of IndSTT. With the advent of JnNURM, works in the subsurface network development and management are increasing. To check, have a look at IndSTT website where we are hosting some of the recent tender notices. Some or at times all these projects would require people to enter confined spaces. For an example, Trenchless Rehabilitation projects of man-entry pipeline at times may require admission of workers in those pipelines for inspection or minor repairs. Unlike the general conception that wearing heavy Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) the confined space entry needs lighter equipment. Protection from poisonous gases which otherwise may not be important for the workers operating at elevations becomes crucial for the people working in confined spaces. Mishaps in confined spaces can lead to deaths and therefore the higher importance of the issue. IndSTT is also working developing the confined space entry programs for the fraternity workers and shall be holding the first course by the end of April or middle of May’ 07. Naturally, the training and certification would need to be a mandatory requirement for people entering the confined spaces. In addition, the people supervising these activities also need to have specific training and certification for overseeing these activities. I would welcome all our stakeholders to work with us in this important mission.

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