February 20, 2002

‘13’

NEW INITIATIVES FOR CORROSION CONTROL

        The government is contemplating new initiatives to tackle the issue of corrosion which has not only been draining the economy but also taking a heavy toll of human lives. The direct loss due to lack of corrosion control is estimated to be about 5 percent of GNP, amounting to staggering Rs. 20,000 crore per annum and the indirect loss including human toll runs into double that figure. This was stated by the Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Shri V. Suresh while inaugurating an International Congress on "Emerging Corrosion Control Strategies for the New Millennium", organised jointly by the Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute (CECRI) of the CSIR and the National Corrosion Council of India (NCCI), here today.

        Terming the loss to the national economy due to lack of corrosion control as ‘colossal’ Shri Suresh said that creation of awareness at the cutting edge level is very essential. We must ensure durable life circle for all products which are prone to corrosion through anti-corrosion measures. He said India is globally competitive in anti-corrosion technology but this is not being fully utilised at the applicators level due to a variety of reasons including lack of knowledge. He said it is time that we introduced the subject of corrosion in the curricula for engineering courses. He also called for setting apart a R&D fund by the manufacturing and construction industry for corrosion control activities. "Depreciation Fund" or "Sinking Fund" would also need to be created for retrofitting of the existing structures being ravaged by corrosion. These include railways, petrochemicals, shipping, steel, construction and various other areas. In fact, there is no field left which need to be covered by anti-corrosion measures.

        The Director of CECRI and Chairman of the NCCI Dr. M. Raghavan who presided said the Congress among other things will particularly study the iron-pillar at Qutab in Delhi which has not corroded over hundreds of years. He said that this indicates India had the technology to produce such anti-corrosive iron even at that time. Why such technology which was available hundreds of years ago is not known to us now. This needs complete investigation into the process of producing such corrosion evasive materials. New areas to be discussed threadbare include microbial corrosion of concrete especially seen in ports. Effective bio-corrosion control measure also need to be evolved soon to avoid damages to some of our infrastructure and installations, he said.

        About 200 delegates from India and abroad including America, France, Canada, China and Korea are taking part in the Congress.