Volume1 Issue 6                                                                                                          September 2002

Editorial

In mid-September, I attended 2 major chemical industry events in Delhi - the India-Chem exhibition and the UOP seminar on Refining and Petrochemicals. Gauging by the tremendous enthusiasm exuded by the delegates at both these events, the fortunes of the chemical industry appears to be on the rise again. Alas, the same optimism was not evident at our AGM held on 28th September. Despite a qualitative change in communications through the website and the monthly Newsletters, the enthusiasm does not appear to have trickled down to the grassroots level of our membership base. This is an issue that we all need to address if we are to grow as an organisation.

A key decision taken at this year's AGM pertains to owning our own office space. The absence of a full-time secretariat for MRC has hampered our growth and now that the General Body has cleared the decks by providing a clear mandate to the Executive Committee to acquire an office space, we may have good tidings in the New Year.

This year we propose to bring out a Members Directory and to set the ball rolling, e-mail me at secretary@iichemrc.org with your contact particulars (phone/e-mail), organisation, designation, alma-mater, membership no. and special interests. Mark 'Members Directory' in the subject header. Students Chapters will be another thrust area this year and their programmes will be co-ordinated by Mr.Sankholkar (asa@epc.ltindia.com or asank@vsnl.com ). Help us make this another successful and memorable year!

K.Sahasranaman

You will be pleased to know that we had a successful Annual General Meeting on 28th September attended by more than 50 members including the past chairmen of Mumbai Regional Centre. The Annual Report for the past year was presented by the Secretary and the new committee has been re-constituted for the year October 2002 to September 2003. I thank you all for re-electing me as the chairman for this year.

The overall scenario of the industry is on a recovery path as viewed from the production statistics presented by the manufacturing sector. The good news is that Oman India Fertilisers, a joint venture company between Government of India represented by IFFCO and KRIBHCO have commenced execution of project since August 2002. Another good news is that Paradeep Phosphates, after the disinvestment to Zuari Maroc group has been on a recovery path. The plants have demonstrated production more than the nameplate capacity. But the long wait for a long-term Fertiliser Policy is making the industry sick. It is understood that the group of ministers will shortly finalise their recommendations. It is hoped that their recommendations will bring cheer to the industry battling to survive due to drought in some parts of the country.

D.P.Mishra

Membership
Members added during the year:

Life Members	16
Members	4
Associate Members	3
Student Members	203

   

Website
     Mumbai Regional Centre's website, www.iichemrc.org was launched on 29th January 2002 by Dr.R.A.Mashelkar, Director-General, CSIR. The website provides a cost-effective way of communicating with the members and keeping them informed about the centre's programmes and activities. Monthly Newsletters are also electronically delivered through the website to registered members. The website has logged 750 visits so far.

Members Database
     With a view to update and consolidate the contact details, each member was contacted individually through letter. Over 150 responses were received and the contact details including e-mail addresses have been compiled.

Newsletters
     A 4-page monthly Newsletter was started in April 2002 and 5 editions have been brought out so far. The Newsletter provides members with timely information on forthcoming programmes and reports of events and abstracts of lectures. In addition, it carries a regular feature - 'Website of the Month'. A detailed special bulletin was also published.

Contribution
     MRC contributed a sum of Rs.50, 000 towards the prestigious Dr.H.L.Roy Memorial Lecture at CHEMCON 2001.

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Workshop on Water and Wastewater Treatment
     A two-day workshop on water and wastewater treatment was organised on 14th/15th June 2002. Over 60 registered delegates attended. The workshop featured 9 lectures by distinguished persons on topics like Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Thermal Processes for Waste Management, Water Recycle, Arsenic Removal etc. There were also 2 interesting panel discussions. Certificates were awarded to participants at a valedictory address. Proceedings of the workshop have been published.

Refresher Course on Process Simulation
     A two-day Refresher Course on Process Simulation was organised on 23rd/24th August 2002. 40 persons attended. The course comprised basic principles of Thermodynamics by Prof.R.K.Malik of IIT, Bombay and a 'hands-on' exposure to HYSYS Simulation package by Aspentech. Exhaustive course notes and reference materials were provided. Participants were awarded certificates.

Dr.R.B.Roy Choudhury Memorial Lecture
     This prestigious annual endowment lecture was held as usual on 29th January 2002. Dr.R.A.Mashelkar, Director-General of CSIR spoke on the topical subject of 'Patents and the Poor'. The lecture was very well attended and received a good coverage in the print media. The lecture enhanced the visibility of IIChE.

Other Lectures
Other lectures organised were:

*Use of Porous Ceramics for Industrial Filtration - Paul Hipkiss of Fairey Ceramics, U.K. (February 2002)

*Multivariable Control - Dr.Umesh Mathur of Techwrite, Houston (April)

*Molecular Modeling for Surfactant Design - Dr.Pradip of Tata Research Development and Design Centre (August 2002)

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Industry - Interaction
     An industry interaction programme was organised on 29th June 2002 to exchange ideas on how industry and IIChE can mutually benefit from each other. United Phosphorus, Pidilite, Lupin etc were some of the industries represented. Dr.Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India was also present.

Factory Visit
     On March 9th 2002, a factory visit was organised to Vikram Ispat, the sponge iron manufacturing plant of Aditya Birla Group.

Fellowship Evenings
     Members had three fellowship opportunities during the year - picnic to Kashid beach on March 9th, cocktail and dinner sponsored by George Fischer following the seminar on thermoplastic piping systems on 19th April and the dinner with spouse following the AGM on 28th September.

Partnerships
     MRC extended its support to other professional / industrial associations in organising seminars and symposia : 2-day symposium on Innovative Strategies for Cost Competitiveness in Chemical Industry organised by Heavy Water Board and Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (June 20/21), and 1-day seminar on Advances in Distillation organised by Asian Mid-East Institute of Chemists (Sept 28)

Student Chapter Programmes
     MRC actively extended its co-operation and support to programmes of its student chapters : Prodigy, an all-India undergraduate research colloquium and Chemfusion, an annual festival encompassing 7 chemical engineering colleges of Mumbai and the neighbourhood.

Executive Committee Meetings
     During the year the Executive Committee met 13 times and the average attendance of the committee members was 66%. Besides the committee members exchanged 482 group e-mails.

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MINUTES OF THE 42nd AGM

The 42nd AGM of the Mumbai Regional Centre of IIChE was held at UICT on 28th October at 6.00 pm. The following were discussed and agreed:

1) Chairman Mr.D.P.Misra welcomed the members present

2) Honorary Secretary Mr.K.Sahasranaman read the minutes of the 41st AGM held on 1st Decemeber 2001. The minutes were unanimously approved (Proposed by Mr.K.P.Mohandas Rao and Seconded by Mr.Sutaria)

3) Honorary Secretary Mr.K.Sahasranaman presented the Annual Report for 2001-02 using PowerPoint.

*  Dr.Rastogi felt it would have been useful if the printed copy of the report had been circulated to the members in advance.

*  Mr.Chattopadhyay suggested that membership forms should be available on MRC's website for downloading.

*  Mr.A.K.Saxena informed that he will take up with HQ the possibility of redesigning the membership form for on-line submission and on-line payment by credit card.

*  Mr.Sutaria suggested that since all members may not have access to computers, the practice of sending communication by post should be continued.

The Annual Report was unanimously adopted. (Proposed by Mr.K.P.Mohandas Rao and seconded by Mr.U.B.Rao)

4) The Treasurer Prof.V.C.Malshe presented the statement of the audited accounts for the year ending 31st March 2002. Mr.A.K.Saxena observed that without CHEMCON, this year's surplus generation is the largest ever by a regional centre. The account was unanimously adopted. (Proposed by Dr.Rastogi and Seconded by Mr.Sutaria)

5) Chairman D.P.Misra informed members that as decided at the last AGM, a sub-committee under the stewardship of Prof.V.C.Malshe had been set up during the year to look into a suitable accommodation for MRC's office. Prof.Malshe apprised the members of the details of two flats identified by the sub-committee. The flats measuring 750-850 sq.feet are in Bhakti Park near the imax theatre at Wadala-East. The cost is in the range of Rs.17-19 lakhs. One of them is ready for possession, while the other will be ready by March 2003. The building complex will have club facilities and a convention centre for 500 persons. Comments were invited from members on this proposal.

*  Mr.A.K.Saxena suggested that this should be considered as a temporary accommodation and we should eventually consider a building on a grand scale on par with that of the Delhi Regional Centre.

* Dr.Rastogi questioned the propriety of introducing this important motion at such a short notice and felt that more members would have been present if advance notice had been given. He also suggested that MRC should consider renting a premise or tagging along with other professional bodies.

*  Dr.B.Chakravorty was of the opinion that it would be more economical to rent out an office instead of going for such a big investment.

*  Mr.Narendra Shah said that recurring expenses like property tax, maintenance cost etc should also be taken into account.

*  Mr.K.P.Mohandas Rao remarked that the problem of an independent office accommodation has been on MRC's agenda far too long and felt that an active full-time secretariat is the need of the hour if we are to grow. Such a secretariat would lend permanence to the institution even though Executive Committees change every year.

*  Mr.Goyal felt that it would be possible to get a bigger office in Navi Mumbai for the same amount.

* Mr.U.B.Rao felt that the office should be located in a central place and from that angle, this is an ideal proposal.

*  Dr.Ganeshan said that a full-time secretariat is required to store MRC's assets, memorabilia, records and for receiving mail.

*  Dr.Badarinarayana was of the opinion that this is the best option under the present low interest regime.

Since no consensus was emerging, Mr.Anil Desai moved the resolution - 'Resolved that the Executive Committee be empowered to take suitable action in purchasing a property for the office accommodation keeping in mind MRC's interests'. Mr.Narendra Shah seconded the resolution. The resolution was put to vote and adopted by a voice vote.

6)  Chairman Mr.D.P.Misra briefed the members on the background of MRC extending financial support of Rs.50, 000 to Dr.H.L.Roy Memorial Lecture at the last Chemcon. The question of continuing that support this year was placed before the AGM. Some were in favour, while others opposed. Finally the resolution - 'The General Body is not in favour of financially supporting Dr.H.L.Roy Memorial Lecture this year' - was moved by Dr.Rastogi and seconded by Mr.U.B.Rao. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

7)   It was unanimously decided that the present auditor M/s K.S.Jhaveri shall continue for another year (Proposed by Mr.S.S.Vengsarkar and Seconded by Mr.P.K.Saxena)

8)   The election officer Mr.Viren Gohil announced the names of the 14 valid nominations received for the Executive Committee for the year 2002-03 Mr.D.P.Misra Dr.R.N.Trivedi Prof.V.C.Malshe Dr.S.Ganeshan Mr.V.K.Srivastava Mr.V.K.Tangri Prof.S.P.Mahajan Dr.S.S.Bhagwat Prof.R.K.Malik Dr.J.V.Kelkar Dr.M.C.Badarinarayana Mr.P.Kalntri Mr.R.Kannan Mr.K.Sahasranaman They introduced themselves to the General Body.

9)   Among other points, Dr.A.B.Pandit handed over a cheque of Rs.5000 being the contribution of M/s Evergreen Wirecloth to IIChE - MRC.

10)   Chairman invited Mr.Trevor Nurse from Jacobs U.K. to share with the members his experiences on the activities and programmes of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (U.K)

11)   Honorary Joint Secretary Dr.S.Ganeshan proposed the formal vote of thanks and the members adjourned for fellowship and dinner.

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Website of the Month

This month's site http://solvdb.ncms.org, provides a wealth of information on commercially available solvents. The site claims to be 'a one-stop source for solvents data' and lives up every bit to the high expectations raised by such a label. At this site you can find chemical and physical data, health, safety and environmental data, regulatory responsibilities, hazard classification status and a list of manufacturers for various solvents. An elegant and powerful feature of this database is its search and sort facility. It is possible for instance to query all solvents with boiling points in the range of 100 -140 degs. C.

Send your feedback on this and the Newsletter in general to secretary@iichemrc.org. Of course do keep visiting www.iichemrc.org for the MRC news and www.iiche.org.in for the news from the IIChE Headquarters.

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