Page 45 - HUDCO Award for Best Practices - 2024

THEME: SANITATION

IIT Gandhinagar – Green Initiatives at its

Campus

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat

BACKGROUND

During the planning stages of construction of its permanent campus, IITGN had a vision of being a zero discharge, zero waste
campus. With this vision, an eco-friendly sewage treatment plant (STP) was established at the campus along with other instruments
such as biogas plant and compost pits for proper solid waste disposal. Specialized agencies have been engaged for proper disposal
of recyclable, sanitary and e-waste. These practices have been in-place at IITGN since the commissioning of its permanent campus
in Palaj, Gandhinagar. IITGN also engages actively with the community inside and in the neighbouring villages to promote good
practices pertaining to sanitation and waste management, and has included cleanliness thinking in its curriculum through the
Foundation Program, a five-week compulsory program for first year undergraduate students. IITGN also takes pride in establishing
clean living environment for the construction workers engaged in the development of new upcoming buildings in the campus.

• Geographic area of IITGN: 16,26,838 m².

• Approximate population (on campus): 4,000 persons

• Problems and issues of concern: Sanitation, cleanliness and proper waste disposal

• Which social groups affected: IITGN Community and neighbouring villages
MAIN FOCUS OF THE BEST PRACTICE

a) Eco-friendly Sewage treatment plant that provides recycled water and manure for horticulture on campus.

b) Waste segregation practice in housing and hostel areas and all campus eateries

c) Sanitary and e-waste management through specialized agencies

d) Bio-waste management through specialized agencies, composting pits & biogas plant on campus.
e) Recyclable waste management for paper, plastic and thermocol

f) Collection of expired/unused medicines

g) Cleanliness drives within and outside campus

h) Engagement in nearby villages for cleanliness and sanitation education and best practices.

i) Inclusion of cleanliness in curriculum through foundation program
j) Energy Efficiency & Passive Cooling

k) Water Management

l) Renewable Energy (Solar PV System)

ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITIES:

The foremost priority was establishing STP, which became operational from the first day of occupancy of the campus. Next was setting
up of the compost pits and the biogas plant along with institution of a Green Office and waste segregation practices. The construction
and commissioning part was done through the Institute Works Department (IWD) of IITGN. After successful implementation of
first STP (0.6 MLD), we have commissioned second STP (0.6 MLD) in April 2022. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) experts

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