Indian Society for Trenchless Technology
A Perspective
By A K Sarkar,Chairman & Managing Director, National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.

INTRODUCTION
India, which was using traditional cut and cover methods for utility installation, is slowly waking up to the use of Trenchless Technology. This has been mainly due to the propaganda blitz carried out by the Indian Society for Trenchless Technology (INDSTT).

ACTIVITIES
* The Society was registered in May, 1998 and the bye-laws of the Society were framed.
* In India, the code of practice for underground utilities of various user departments has been formulated according to the conventional and traditional methods. Hence, the Society has taken on its shoulders to recast the same suiting the 'NO-DIG' technology for exploitation of underground space. To facilitate the adoption of 'NO-DIG' technology by the Government departments and metropolitan autho- rities, the National guidelines on Trenchless Technology was prepared to have a suitable “NO-DIG Code of Practice”. These guidelines indicate the vast technical study carried out by the members of the Technical Committee. These guidelines have been submitted to the Government of India.
* To promote the know-how and popularise the technology, INDSTT conducted seminars on trenchless technology at various places. With an objective that there is maximum exposure to this technology, INDSTT also gave presentation on trenchless technology in various Engineering/Technical seminars. This increased the awareness amongst a cross section of practicing engineers.
* INDSTT also publishes a journal ‘NO-DIG INDIA’ on a quarterly basis, circulated amongst members as well as user departments. This magazine contains articles on research, rehabilitation, equipment update, case studies and experiences of contractors along with a diary of worldwide events and reports on related seminars etc. By publishing the hands-on experiences of the contractors on the projects, the contractors gain publicity and get encouragement. The quarterly journal is being distributed to around 300 technocrats. By these efforts, the technology is receiving wide publicity amongst practicing engineers and contractors.

RESPONSE
* With constant efforts made by the Indian Society for Trenchless Technology, awareness of this alternative technique has gathered ground. We are proud to state that most of the Government Departments, top bureaucrats, academic institutions, Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC), Chambers of Commerce and Industry similar bodies are aware that an update on this technology can be obtained in India through INDSTT. We are getting good response and enquiries from various Departments. As per reports, the number of projects using trenchless technology has also increased manyfold. MTNL (Telephone Depart- ment), New Delhi has awarded works of laying of cables for 185 kms by using trenchless methods only. Similar telephone cable laying work is being done in the cities of Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Rivers like the Hoogly and the Sutlej have been crossed non-stop in few days going below the river beds and laying the product oil lines.
* Rehabilitation works are also progressing in the city of Mumbai for sewage pipe lines.
* Recently, tenders have been floated for pipe bursting, pipe lining and micro tunnelling jobs in Mumbai.
* Many Government Depart- ments are realising that the rehabilitation of sewer lines by trenchless technology methods are most suitable for congested Indian conditions. Recently, the British High Commission was approached by INDSTT to help in bringing micro tunnelling equipments from interested companies of U K to India. Looking at the huge untapped market and bright prospects of Trenchless Technology in India, we shall request Equipment Manufacturers to send us their addresses so that the same could be published in our magazine and they could get wide publicity and market entry in the Indian Construction Industry.

FUTURE PLANS/TASKS AHEAD

• To publish a directory of manufacturers of trenchless equipments so as to facilitate our contractors for selection and purchase of equipments.
• To publish a directory of contractors so that some business agreements could materialise.
• To bring out a directory of users and prospective users.
• To get the National Guidelines on Trenchless Technology accepted by the Government of India and publish it for wider initiatives.
• To conduct training programmes for all level of employees from technicians to manufacturers, User Departments, Educational Institutions and other authorities.
• To organise more seminars/conferences in various parts of India to further increase the awareness/adoption of Trenchless Technolgy.
• Setting up of INDSTT’s own building in Delhi.
• To develop business cost model for Trenchless Technology.
• To host a website of INDSTT.

WHAT IS TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY
‘Trenchless Technology’ is the science of installing and rehabilitating the under-ground utilities without digging open trenches. It is also referred to as ‘No-Dig Method’. It may be used for laying water, sewer and gas pipelines, electricity and communication cables and other underground utilities.
SCOPE OF USING TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

• New installation of utilities
• Rehabilitation and Renovation of existing installations

ADVANTAGES OF TRENCH-LESS TECHNOLOGY OVER TRADITIONAL OPEN CUT METHODS

• The future lies in the cost effective, less disruptive, eco-friendly and speedy techniques for installing and renovating underground utilities. Trenchless Technology offers one such method.
• Comparatively cheaper, if social costs are taken into consideration while evaluating the cost-benefits to the society.
• Projects are completed in much less time than by open-cut methods thus the society is benefited if cost-benefits of the two methods are compared.
• Generates hi-tech trades men.
• Detail preliminary plann- ing, geo-technical investigations, use of appropriate equipment, use of quality material ensure quality of construction of the underground utilities.

PROSPECTS OF ADOPTING THE TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY
India offers a huge market for adoption of Trenchless Technology. Leading equipment manufacturers world-wide are eager to enter India in collaboration with Indian partners. Our metropolitan cities viz. Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore and other fast growingg State capitals are congested and have out-grown their master-plans limits. This has caused immediate need for rehabilitation, renovation, augmentation of existing old water supply and sewage pipelines and also new installations. Laying of communication cables, gas and oil pipelines, power cables are yet another area for adoption of Trenchless Technology. There are some special applications too like constructionof sub-ways, creating underground space, micro-hydel power plants and recharging a under-ground water-table.

INDSTT - A BRIEF
Indian Society for Trenchless Technology (INDSTT) is a non-profit organisation and Registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, in the year 1998. The Society is actively engaged in the promotion and implementation of Trenchless Technology in India, for laying of underground utilities services of all nature. The INDSTT is also affiliated to ISTT (U K). Its broad objectives are :
* To advance the science and practice of Trenchless Technology for the public benefit.
* To promote a better and more effective utilisation of Trenchless Technology through education, training and development in all spheres of Government, agriculture, industry, commerce, education infrastructure, services and such other sectors as the Executive Committee may deem to be relevant from time to time.
* To sponsor appropriate research and/or publish necessary literature, books, journal, newsletters, pamphlets, reports in the furtherance of the objectives of the society.
* To conduct or to assist in conducting conferences, meetings, lectures/seminars, workshops or any other programme in furtherance of the objective of the society.
* To co-operate and collaborate with institutions, bodies and agencies having similar objectives, for the promotion and develop- ment of Tenchless Technolo- gy movement in the country.
* To constitute, support and assist in the establishment of branch of the society in various parts of India in order to make its activities more effective and to spread the Trenchless Technology movement throughout the country by giving scope for development of the local ingenuity and talents. To achieve the objectives INDSTT has been constantly making efforts to increase its membership role in a selective way. As on date, INDSTT has about 290 members from all over the country. Fees for various categories of membership are nominal which are as under :

Institutional Members - Rs. 50,000 Individual Members- Annual Rs.500 and 5,000 for Life Membership
The Members of INDSTT will automatically become fellow members of International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) and will be getting No-Dig International, a monthly journal of ISTT (U K) beside No-Dig India, a Quarterly Journal published by INDSTT.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN INDSTT.
INDIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY
(Regd.)
NBCC Limited. NBCC Bhawan, Lodhi Road
New Delhi - 110003 (India)
TEL : (Off) 91-11-4367562, 4367314 - 15 (Extn 1014, 1015)
FAX : 91-11-4366995
E-mail : nbccho@del2.vsnl.net.in.