| Sanction Date: | 12.01.2024 | |||
| Project Category | SG | |||
| Year | 2023-2024 | |||
| Project Duration | 3 Years | |||
| BTA : | Handling of Waste | |||
| Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: |
Tinsukia, Sibasagar, Jorhat, Kamrup and Bongaigaon District Assam |
|||
| Organization/ Implementation Agency: |
• Assam Pollution Control Board, Silchar, Assam • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) - in partnership |
|||
| Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | ||
| 1. | ||||
| Lead Proponent: | Prof. Piyush Pandey |
|||
| Project Brief Description: | Produced water (PW) is the largest waste stream generated in oil and gas industries. The massive production of polluted water (referred to as PW) containing contaminants, such as heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ag, Ni, Zn), dissolved/suspended particles, and organic compounds, may be counterbalanced by the drilling and extraction procedures that are intended to maximize the production of oil (Vieira et al., 2014b). This contamination poses multifaceted threats to soil quality, agricultural sustainability, and overall ecological equilibrium. This comprehensive research endeavour focuses on the intricate challenge of mitigating the contamination of agricultural soils by pollutants from produced water, a byproduct of crude oil and gas extraction. The scientific underpinning of this study is rooted in the pressing need to develop empirically substantiated, sustainable, and effective methodologies to address these intricate challenges (Vieira et al., 2014b). Fundamentally, this study is the exploration of rhizoremediation, a groundbreaking approach that capitalizes on the remarkable abilities of both plants and their symbiotic microbial communities. The role of plants and microorganisms in this context is pivotal and interdependent. The root systems of selected plant species, strategically chosen for their capacity to thrive in contaminated environments, release a plethora of root exudates into the surrounding soil. These exudates contain various organic compounds that stimulate the growth and activity of specific soil microorganisms. Some contaminants are stored in the plant's tissues, reducing their concentrations in the soil. Furthermore, rhizoremediation involves the enhancement of pollutant degradation processes through the stimulation of specific microbial populations. These microorganisms, residing in the rhizosphere, possess enzymatic capabilities that facilitate the breakdown of contaminants. Microbes in the rhizosphere are fundamental to the success of rhizoremediation. They interact synergistically with plants and contribute to the breakdown of complex contaminants. These microorganisms with distinct metabolic pathways that enable them to degrade specific classes of contaminants. These microorganisms, activated by the root exudates released by the plants, proliferate in the rhizosphere and, in doing so, accelerate the degradation of contaminants. Moreover, microorganisms play a vital role in processes such as phytoaccumulation, where they facilitate the uptake and translocation of contaminants within the plant. This interaction between plants and microbes forms a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership, making rhizoremediation a highly efficient and sustainable approach for soil remediation (Singha & Pandey, 2021). | |||
| Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: |
The beneficiaries of this project can be categorized into various groups, each of which stands to gain from the successful implementation of the project:
• Farmers and Agricultural Communities: Local farmers are primary beneficiaries. They will benefit from improved soil quality, increased crop yields, and enhanced agricultural productivity. Further, they will also get uncontaminated water sources for irrigation and reduced reliance on contaminated water. |
|||
| Activity Chart | Click Here | |||
| Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs. 50,00,000 (Rupees: fifty lakh only) | |||
| 1st Installment (in Rs.) : | Rs. 22,52,800 (Rupees: Twenty two lakh fifty two thousand eight hundred only) | |||
| Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
|
• To assess the extent and nature of contamination in agricultural soils due to PW hydrocarbon - pollutants. • To evaluate the effectiveness of various plant species and their associated microorganisms in the rhizoremediation of PW contaminants. • To develop and implement rhizoremediation strategies along with wastewater management that can be practically applied in agricultural settings. • To monitor and measure the impact of rhizoremediation on soil quality, and yield • To provide recommendations and guidelines for farmers and agricultural stakeholders on the sustainable restoration of contaminated soils through rhizoremediation. |
• On-field demonstration of rhizoremediation strategies at 5 sites on farmer's fields in five districts that can be replicated agricultural fields. • Data demonstrating the effectiveness of rhizoremediation in reducing pollutant levels and improving soil quality. • Training and awareness building of 300 affected farmers. • Recommendations and guidelines for farmers and agricultural stakeholders on sustainable soil restoration practices. |
• Demonstrations developed (Nos) • Technical Manual on Rhizoremediation Strategies implemented in contaminated agriculture fields (Nos). • Evidential Database, built upon Baseline, towards reduction in pollution level and improvement in soil quality (Nos); • Trainings conducted (No.) and Trained Resources (Nos.); • Knowledge Products (No.) including Technical Guidelines/ Manual on Sustainable Restoration Practices; • Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders (No.) |
| S.No. | Name (Sanctioned) | Grant under Professoional Services |
| 1. | SRF | @ 35000/- + HRA @9% for three years. |
| S.No. | Name of Equipment (Sanctioned) | Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | Hardware & software, Minor equipment Rs.75000/-. Tensiometer to Study Surface Tension (01 No. @ Rs.300000/- ) and ELISA Reader (01No. @ 500000/ ) | 8,25,000/- |
