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Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad

Department of Environmental Science

Educational Tour Report – 2016

Mr. Mahesh Joshi M.Sc. Second Year Fourth Semester

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A beginning…. The Department of Environmental Science of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University embarked on a milestone journey through its three days Annual Educational tour during March 15 to March 17, 2016. It was special and unique in more ways than one. The concept of Learn with Fun kept students constantly involved, thinking, analyzing and correlating the academic curriculum with the real life. The amazing exploration not only covered visit to the globally acclaimed Industries in Nashik MIDC area, but also added fragrance of sanctity and spirituality in it by visiting the Saptashrungi Goddesses of Wani. The autumn gathering ended with a thrilling and adventurous experience at the Saputara hill station of Gujrat that made this tour memorable forever.

The idea of this wonderful tour was brainchild of our Head of Department Prof. Dr. N.N. Bandela. For designing the blue print of this journey, he got equivalent support from Prof. Dr. Satish Patil, Prof. Dr. B.L. Chavhan and Prof. Y.L. Padme. The entire team worked for around a month to make this event successful. For that they personally spoke with the tour operators, hotel owners and travel agents to avoid any confusion or inconvenience. It was the fruit of their constant efforts that the entire journey completed without any obstacle, safely and joyfully. On the board, Dr. Bandela and Dr. Patil were accompanied by 3 staff members Viz. Bhushan Aher, Jagan Mama and Mangesh. Two

teachers, 3 staffers and 30 students of M.Sc First and Second year including boys and girls started journey from Kranti Chowk area of Aurangabad at around 6 AM.

Day 1, Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Sewage treatment plant (Tapovan, Nasik) As expected the tour witnessed a high voltage opening of rocking performances of dance, play and jokes by the students. After taking a breakfast to add energy, we reached to our first destination at Nashik. Here we visited the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located at Tapovan area. The staff of Municipal Corporation of Nashik gave us a hearty welcome and later the Sectional Engineer Mr. Sandesh Thakur, Plant Incharge Mr. Madhukar Mahale and Chemist Mr. Sanjay Matale presented us with a wonderful power point presentation of functioning of STP. After that we split into two groups for actual site visit and got a very clear picture of the STP, which is second largest such plant in India. Currently the plant has capacity of 78 MLD. Processes used in the Tapovan plants are Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB).

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GlaxoSmithKline, Ambad MIDC, Nashik Our second destination for the day was scheduled at the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) at Ambad MIDC, Nasik. Here Mr. Rohit Virmani (General Manager, EHS) and Mr. Sai Darbha (Manager, EHS) gave introduction about GSK and detailed information the 600 KLP ETP-STP plant and Hazardous Waste Management practices adopted by the company. We were amazed to see such a wonderful place. Roads inside GSK, infrastructure, building and whole campus was so nice that we didn’t feel that we are in any industry. GSK also provides medicine named Alberazore for disease Elephantiasis to WHO for free since 2010. Finally, the GSK offered us high tea and snacks which was similar to grand lunch for all of us. Around 1200 employees are working in this plant spread at 43 acres land.

It was end of day one academic sessions. But more bliss was waiting for us at the Ramghat. We spent a superb evening at the banks of Godavari. Also visited the Kalaram Temple that holds a significant place in the history of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkars’s struggle for inhalation of caste system in India. Our first dinner at Hotel Sanskruti also gave us delightful experience. We took our first halt at Tryambakeshwar. Here nice arrangement was made at the MTDC Resort. Our first halt became pretty by celebration of a student’s Birthday followed by camp fire, dance and music.

Day 2, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 A neatly planned tight schedule was waiting for us for Day 2. Some students in wee hours visited the Brahmagiri Mountains, which is place of origin of Godavari River. Later we began our tour by worshipping Lord Shiva at Trimbyakeshwar. This is one of twelve Jyotirlingas’s and holds significant place in Hinduism. The ancient Hindu’s holy city of Trimbyakeshwar is located 40 km away from Nashik and the place recently witnessed grand ceremony of MahaKumbh. Millions of devotees took a holy dip into Godavari during the Kumbh. After taking breakfast at this holy place, we moved to Bosch India Limited plant at Satpur MIDC.

Bosch India, Satpur MIDC In India, Bosch Limited is the flagship company of the Bosch Group. Nashik Plant is one of the important establishments of Bosch in India since last 40 years. With the constant efforts for excellence in Quality and delivery commitments, the plant received good acceptance by customers in Europe, USA and South East Asia. At present the export business is about 25% of the plant output. Bosch in Nashik is manufacturing nozzles and

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injectors for classical as well as Euro series. The plant is spread on 400,000 sq m. In addition to TS 16949, plant is also certified for ISO 14000, the internationally acknowledged certificate for Environment protection. Here Mr. Anshul Malpani, Environmental Engineer delivered detailed information about ETP & STP. The capacity of ETP is 430 CMD. The main feature of this ETP plant is that it is automatic plant with various sensors and alarm system. It was very educative and informative session. Here company arranged lunch their Bosch canteen.

Mahindra and Mahindra

Our second visit was scheduled at the Mahindra & Mahindra Plant in the same Satpur MIDC. Mahindra facility at Nashik is a merchant producer of blanked automotive skin panels. M&M was the first automotive major in India to outsource manufacturing of blanked body profiles or skin panels thus rewriting the rules of the business in India. Strategically located 25 km from Nashik city, the plant is ideally situated to cater to the automotive belt in the Western region. We were mesmerized to see such huge campus with lots of new vehicles like Bolero, Scorpio, Xylo, Sentra, Verinto around us. EHS officer Mrs. Sujata Kulkarni and Mr. Harshad kaduskar, Asst. Manager EHS introduced us about ETP & STP Plant through a power point presentation. Later Mr. Don, ETP In charge accompanied for site visit. The capacity of plant is 1100 CMD. The beauty of this plant is the effluent came here by travelling a distance of 5 km by the natural gravitational force. No power is used to lift effluent to the ETP tanks.

After 2 days of Industrial visit with lots of information gathering, meeting various professional, we feel like amongst them. But the student demanded more. It was already there in list. Soon after it, we headed towards Goddess Saptashrungi temple Wani, a sacred place. Here we did second halt at the Bhakta Niwas, an accommodation facility been provided by the trust at affordable rates.

Day 3, Thursday, March 17, 2016 Wani Temple

All our spiritual places have been related to science, which aspect is neglected by us for years together. There is a specific reason for the emergence of each and every spot in India. Saptashrungi of Wani also holds similar significance. We got up early in the morning at around 5. It was a time to begin our day by worshipping Goddess Saptashrungi. The temple is situated in the middle part of huge mountains. As soon as we started approaching the place we felt sanctity of

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the atmosphere. And this was related to the spiritual vibrations in the atmosphere. The idol of the goddesses is indigenously self emerged. A single look at Goddess full filled us

with spiritual satisfaction. As it was a nice time for photography, many cameras started clicking the Sun rise view from the higher altitudes of Wani temple. Coming back to the Bhakta Nivasa, we packed up our bags to move for our final and last destination, Saputara in Gujarat.

Saputara, Gujarat Passing from the Zigzag hills, we reached at Saputara, which is said to be alone hill station in Gujarat. This place is famous for Air Rappelling, Rope Way, boating, Horse riding, bike riding and other adventurous games. We hired a local vehicle here to see the tourism destination here.

However, we all were disappointed to see that the rope way and Rappelling was closed due to maintenance. It was tough time to enjoy other games and adventures sports due to rising mercury. Hence without spending more time at the Hill Station, we preferred to have fun at the lake. Here almost everyone enjoyed Boating and some of us had Boating race too. We were running out of time and it was demanding us to leave Saputara. Accordingly, we started our return journey from there at around 4 PM.

The return journey again witnessed lots of fun, Bus dance and lot many activities. After taking a

dinner in a Hotel near Vaijapur, we reached in Aurangabad at around 11 PM. Our department took utmost care to see that everyone has reached at their home without any

hurdles. The bus drop route was arranged accordingly. Bandela sir asked every student to inform him by text messages once they reached at home. Finally, it was end of the three days thrilling educational tour … and everyone was

ready with a wonderful dream about the fantastic experience in the magical journey.

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Glimpses

of tour 2016