Guwahati: A boiler safety and energy efficiency workshop was conducted on December 10 by the National Productivity Council (NPC) with Laghu Udyog Bharati (North East Chapter) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The one-day workshop highlighted the growing need for regulatory compliance and operational improvements across industries in the Northeastern region.
Speaking to Pankhi Sarma during an interview with NE's leading news portal, Business North East (BNE), Manoj Verma, Regional Head of the National Productivity Council, highlighted the significance of the event focussed on equipping industries with the latest technologies, safety protocols, and water audit practices to enhance productivity and sustainability in the region’s industrial landscape.
Manoj Verma explained the primary agenda is to create awareness about regulations governing boilers, their safe operations, and the latest energy-efficient technologies. "Industries need to ensure compliance with government norms while enhancing their productivity and operational efficiency," he said during the BNE interview.
The workshop also delved into water audits, emphasizing the importance of water quality in boiler operations. "For industries relying on boilers, water is vital. Ensuring good water quality directly impacts operational performance and product quality," Manoj Verma said.
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Focus on Safety and Awareness
The central theme of the workshop was 'safety'. Manoj Verma pointed out the lack of awareness of safety measures among many operators in the Northeast.
"Boilers are important in the functioning of industries, but carelessness or miscalculated pressure handling may result in disaster. In our case, we want to ensure that participants are made aware of legal practices and the ethics of such practice,” he said while explaining that the workshop covered multiple dimensions of boiler operations, including safety protocols and compliance with government-mandated regulations.
"Primarily, we want to ensure that disasters don't happen. Industries need to check pressure regularly and follow regulatory authorities guidelines," Manoj Verma further mentioned.
Diverse Industrial Applications
Boilers are widely used in processing industries across the Northeast, including tea, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. "Northeast Industries increasingly rely on boilers for operations. As industrial activity grows in the region, the demand for boilers is also rising," the Regional Head of the National Productivity Council further noted.
Moreover, he shared that water quality is crucial in boiler operations. Low water quality can also affect the efficiency of the boilers and output quality, per the regional head of NCP, which conducted water audits to ensure optimal use of this critical resource in the workshop.
He further revealed the investments related to boilers and said that they vary based on their size and application. While small-scale systems may cost thousands of rupees, larger setups can run into lakhs, depending on the scale of operations.
Evolving Industrial Landscape
The workshop comes at a time when the industrial landscape of Northeast India is undergoing significant transformation. "Over the past 5–7 years, we’ve witnessed growing awareness about safety norms and skill development among industries," Manoj Verma said, lauding the state's policies contributing to this positive change.
From Assam’s iconic tea sector to the burgeoning pharmaceutical and textile industries, many sectors in the Northeast rely on boilers. “Boilers are essential for heating water, generating steam, and providing a heat source for various industrial processes. They are indispensable in almost every process industry in the region, whether small or large scale,” Manoj Verma said while explaining their utility.
He said that the demand for boilers has grown exponentially as the industrial landscape in Northeast India is rapidly changing. Moreover, the number of industries using boilers has increased significantly over the last decade.
Manoj Verma said the demand for advanced boiler systems will grow with bigger players entering the market. Through such workshops, the NPC wishes to ensure Northeast industries possess the knowledge and tools to drive productivity, safety, and growth. However, boilers have limited application in semiconductors.
Safety Challenges and Industry Evolution
One of the recurring challenges is the lack of proper safety mechanisms in many industries. “Many operators are unaware of safety schedules, which leads to improper maintenance of boilers. If not maintained correctly, boilers pose a significant risk, including accidents caused by pressure mismanagement,” the official said. He added that NPC’s workshops aim to build a safety culture and regulatory compliance.
“Industries must invest in implementing and understanding these safety norms. The NPC is committed to helping them navigate the complexities of compliance while improving their operational efficiency,” the official stated during the BNE interview.
Regarding the financial aspect, Manoj Verma said boiler costs could run into thousands of rupees for small-scale operations. However, large-scale industrial setups could cost several lakhs, depending on the specific requirements.
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According to Monoj Verma, there has been a positive shift in the Northeast's industrial landscape over the past five to seven years. He has observed that Industries in the Northeast are becoming more aware of technical safety norms and are actively upskilling their workforce.
He said even if boilers are not directly applicable in high-tech sectors like semiconductors, their relevance in process industries remains high. Moreover, Manoj Verma mentioned tea, textiles, and pharmaceutical industries are all witnessing significant growth, driving this demand further.
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