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Report on First Meeting of the High level Task Force on Trenchless held during

No Dig India Seminar on Capacity Building for Urban Renewal through Trenchless Technology held on 28th March, 2007 at SCOPE Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

 

The first meeting of the High Level Task Force on Trenchless Technology was held during the Two day Seminar on "Capacity Building for Urban Renewal through Trenchless Technology" on 28th - 29th March, 2007 at New Delhi.

 

The agenda of the task force covered topics like overview of the preparedness to absorb TT techniques by project implementing authorities, observations by members of high level task force, and subsequently discussions on the issues to be focused in the formulation of the policy document and related future course of actions.

 

Participants of the Meeting included nominees from Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay (MCGB), Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), National Capital Region Development Board, Howrah Municipal Corporation, Pimpiri & Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewage Board, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, PWD, Pondicherry, Orissa Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Central Public Health &  Envr. Engg. Org. (CPHEEO), DGET, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India, KUWS&DB Sub Division, Maddur, KUWS&DB Division, Mysore, Thane Municipal Corporation and the event delegates.

 

To provide the Trenchless inputs for a better evaluation of the present situation and the possible ways for the technology absorption several keynote addresses were delivered. The combination of these two events and associated workshops on the different topics of interests like pipe bursting, subsurface tracking, rehabilitation etc. yielded intense deliberations and several recommendations were made by the participants.

 

Following recommendations emerged from the Seminar and the First High Level Task Force Meeting on Trenchless Technology:

 

User Sensitization

 

  • To initiate the user sensitization it was recommended that minor display events at each interested JnNURM city be arranged by IndSTT in association with High Level Task Force Member organization there. The operational modalities to be as under:

 

·         To initiate sensitization activities for Trenchless Technology (TT) a group of experts be nominated / opted by IndSTT and the Specific City Authority. The Group be named as Trenchless City Cell (TCC) in every JNNURM cities to promote the related activities for application of TT in that specific city like application of techniques, requirement of HRD, equipment procurement, etc.

 

·         TCC to be provided local infrastructure by the task force member organization.

 

·         TCC to be provided technical documents/books and journals by IndSTT for the user sensitization on a cost reimbursement basis.

 

·         Sensitization events for the city specific professionals to be conducted by TCC. INDSTT to organize the technical presentation for such events.

 

·         Local arrangements for the event to be organized by TCC. Financing of TCC and the event to come through sponsorships / delegate fee.

 

·         In Sensitization events equipment manufacturers/technology providers to be invited by IndSTT to conduct technology / equipment related presentations and technique specific workshops for enhancement of information of the local stakeholders.

 

 

Project Formation

 

  • Trenchless Technology is extremely useful for Sewerage disposal and Water Supply Networks, Cabled and Energy transmission networks, and pollution control networks. It was recommended that since the sensitization levels about various Trenchless  Techniques at present are low, IndSTT should assist various stakeholders for the following:

 

    • Formation of new Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the projects employing Trenchless Technology;

    • Evaluation of Trenchless Technology DPRs to scrutinize their proper use in the projects;

    • Advising the civic authorities for suitable adjustments in the DPRs to suit the project requirement;

    • Participating in the evaluation meetings for selection and approvals etc.

 

  • In the same context it was recommended that Guidelines & standards for quality assurance be developed.

 

  • It was further recommended that quality control system and comparative Product Tests according to Indian requirements should be developed.

 

Condition Assessment

 

  • Utility Location:

 

·         At times, the complete information like location, size, geotechnical position and other physical information about the subsurface utility networks are not available with the respective civic authority. To acquire the above details, Subsurface Utility Engineering methods like Ground Probe Radar surveys, seismic refractions and other geotechnical methods may be used to reduce damage to the infrastructure by physical excavations.

 

·         Such details / information are important for planning for the new network developments (These details can help in avoiding accidental damages to the existing networks). They are also important for planning rehabilitation and renewal activities for existing networks.

 

·         A system to develop and manage a consolidated database for such utilities of the specific city to be developed which can be used on a real-time basis.

 

·         For developing the above database, a Unit for SUE Information Database Development and Management for the city to be created by the Civic Authority with the assistance of IndSTT.

 

 

  • Utility Condition Assessment:

 

·         Once having located the utility, its condition assessment becomes important for the management purpose. As the network deterioration is a continuous process with a varying rate of deterioration at different locations, a status system to identify the expected failure extents and their respective locations on a real time scale becomes a major tool for maintenance planning and executing agency. It is proposed that such a system be also prepared as an extension to the database proposed above.

 

Development of Working Standards & Specifications

 

  • There is a dearth of technical standards for various Trenchless Techniques and the same need to be developed through a nominated working group titled as Trenchless Technical Standards (TTS) Working Group under the aegis of the High Level Task Force on Trenchless Technology.

 

  • In addition to the technical standards, quality assurance and quality control and workmen safety manuals also need to be developed for all the techniques. Such development should be done through a separate working group titled as Trenchless Quality Standards TQS) Working Group under the aegis of the High Level Task Force on Trenchless Technology.

 

  • Nominations for the above two working groups to be invited by IndSTT from amongst the stakeholders and the nominees of the High level task force on Trenchless Technology.

 

Procurement Processes

 

  • In order to harmonize the procurement processes, it was recommended that a standard schedule of rates in line with the IndSTT be developed through another nominated working group titled as Trenchless Schedule of Rates (TSR) Working Group under the aegis of the High Level Task Force on Trenchless Technology. 

 

  • In order to provide assistance to the various civic authorities it is recommended that a National Register of Trenchless Service Providers be maintained by IndSTT. All the Task force members and interested stakeholders to have an access to this register. In order to initiate the formation of this register each member to sensitize its service providers of this formation and encourage them to join the register so that a national data base is available for the betterment of all the users.

 

  • In order to provide assistance to the various civic authorities it is recommended that a National Register of Trenchless Professional be maintained by IndSTT. All the Task force members and interested stakeholders to have an access to this register. In order to initiate the formation of this register each member to sensitize its service providers of this formation and encourage them to join the register so that a national data base is available for the betterment of all the users.

 

  • On the same lines a National Register of Trenchless Techniques is also proposed to be maintained by IndSTT so that all Task Force members have an access to different techniques and can utilize them after a comparative analysis. All the Task force members and interested stakeholders to have an access to this register.

 

  • In order to sensitize the Trenchless Service providers about the specific project requirement of each Civic authority a Web Based Information System to be developed by IndSTT in line with its present Tender information pages on its web site (www.indianodig.com/tenders.html   

 

 

Human Resource

 

HR for Project Design and Supervision

 

  • In order to meet the requirements of the trained professionals in Trenchless Technology Sector dedicated Training sessions of the Civic Authority Engineers and other professionals to be arranged by IndSTT. Training expenses for such persons to be financed by the respective city civic authority/concerned persons. IndSTT to develop a three tier training structure for this purpose.

 

  • First Tier training sessions to be conducted at the specific locations with the assistance of IndSTT. Training in this case to be of general and introductory nature suitable for sensitization purpose only.

 

  • Second Tier Training sessions to be conducted at Identified Regional locations with the assistance of IndSTT. Training in this case to be suitable for project supervision only.

 

  • Third Tier Training sessions to be conducted at Identified National or International Locations with the assistance of IndSTT. Training in this case to be specialized training suitable for project planners, academicians, designers and similar persons.

 

  • Nomination in these sessions to be made by the civic authorities/interested persons as self nominations. The processing of the nominations to be done by IndSTT with the assistance of the city specific TCC.

 

  • For securing the success of the projects project supervision personnel should be trained for at least second tier training sessions.

 

  • Depending upon the project requirements, each city should have a specified number of professionals having undergone tier three level training sessions.

 

  • To maintain Continued Professional Development, the trained persons to be admitted in IndSTT as individual members.

 

HR for Project Execution

 

  • Trenchless Techniques being State-of-Art working methods depend upon the working skills of the machine operators / specialized service provider workers. Testing and certification of the skills of such workers to be made mandatory.

 

  • Similar to the design and supervision professionals, for authentication of Continued Professional Development of workmen a periodic testing of the skills also should be made mandatory.

 

 

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