Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers
and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananthkumar presented the 7th National Awards
for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals and Downstream Plastics Processing
Industry (2016-17), here today. Minister of
State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways,
Shri Mansukh Lal Mandaviya graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
Central Institute of
Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET), an autonomous organization under Department of Chemicals &
Petrochemicals (DCPC), has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the
scheme of the National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemical sector
and Downstream Plastics Processing Industry. For the 7th
National Awards, 415 nominations were received and finally, 16 nominations
have been selected as Winners and 7 nominations as Runners-up for 2016-17.
Addressing the gathering, Shri
Ananthkumar said that the Chemicals & Petrochemicals and Plastics industry
has grown around 12% this year, defying all claims of a slowdown in the economy
post the demonetization drive. Further, he expressed optimism while saying
that in the next three years, this sector would achieve 15% growth.
Recognizing the achievements of CIPET,
the Minister said that the institution is playing a pioneering role in skilling
the youth of India, who in the times to come, would be the torch bearers of the
Skill India, Start-up India and Make in India missions of the Government in
this sector. The Minister noted that the Government has already increased the
number of CIPETs from 23 to 39 in two and half years and is determined to take
this number to 100 as per Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision. He also
mentioned that due to the efforts of CIPET, for the first time in elections,
the containers for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were made of plastic
instead of metals, which made them light, durable and easy to carry to far
flung areas.
Talking about the challenge of plastic
waste management, Shri Kumar noted that Plastic is both an opportunity as well
as a challenge, which needs a special strategy and a behavioral change in the
common man to sustainably use it for the advantage of the masses. He said that
Biodegradable plastic is the answer to this challenge, and announced from the
podium the constitution of a task force headed by the Secretary, Chemicals
& Petrochemicals which would design a national policy to deal with the
issue of sustainable plastic waste management, after consultation with experts
and public at large.
In his address, Shri
Mandaviya talked about Government of India’s Policy which envisions the development
of value added, quality petrochemical products at globally competitive prices
using eco-friendly
processes and technologies as well as Innovation of newer application and
products with focus on sustainable development.
Shri Mandaviya noted that
the Award Scheme incentivizes
meritorious innovations and inventions in the field of polymeric materials,
products, processes and other areas of national and social importance. This
innovation award scheme motivates the inventors to carry out innovative
Research & Development in the areas of petrochemicals industry, which in
turn helps in improving the performance/quality of the existing products.
The National awards are given for
outstanding contribution to R&D leading to less energy consumption, better
plastic waste management, increase in product life cycle, development of
innovative new products, quality standards, recycling and other emerging areas. These awards are
also intended to enhance innovative capacities to the level of international
recognition.
The
ultimate objective is to develop and maintain the petrochemical industry as a
globally competitive industry using eco-friendly processes &
technologies.
Shri Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, Secretary, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ms. Ranjana Kale,
Economic Adviser and Dr. S.K. Nayak, DG, CIPET were also present on the occasion
along with
awardees, senior government officials, representatives of industries, academia
and R&D institutions.
Click this link for the list of awardees in 8 different
categories:
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VM