US-AEP Countries - India - Accomplishments

As a result of a US-AEP sponsored exchange program, the Government of West Bengal is procuring 4 million USD of U.S. technologies to combat the problem of arsenic groundwater contamination in remote villages. Arsenic is a contaminate of groundwater in a large part of West Bengal in Eastern India and adjoining parts of Bangladesh, affecting an estimated population of 10 million on either side.

In 1999, US-AEP organized an exchange program to the U.S. for key policy-makers of West Bengal to identify technologies that can help mitigate the arsenic problem. Atlanta, Georgia-based Apyron Technologies, which manufactures chemical solutions for air and water treatment, was one of the key companies met by the delegation. At present the Government of India has already procured $1 million for 1000 units of arsenic removal equipment. Apyron has also received an order for 150 arsenic removal units, worth about $150,000 through its Indian partner, Ion Exchange India Limited.

In 2001, as a result of a US-AEP-supported demonstration project, Apyron also received UNICEF funds to supply units worth $16,000.

With US-AEP’s support, Minnesota-based Clean-Flo International won contracts worth over $1 million to introduce their water body restoration technology in the Indian States of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Chennai and Delhi. Clean-Flo’s technology helps remove bottom organic muck and reduce aquatic weeds, algae, foul odors, and disease bacteria. US-AEP began its cooperation with Clean-Flo International in April 2001 by coordinating a visit by Clean Flo International to an Indian company. Clean-Flo International later participated in another IIE sponsored activity. Clean-Flo International has also submitted proposals to a number of other States, including clean up of the Yamuna River and lake restoration in Andhra Pradesh.

After a US-AEP-supported Alternate Fuels Conference in 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in January 2002 between the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the National Alternate Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC), and the Delhi Transport Corporation to develop and deliver training on safety and technology issues related to compressed natural gas (CNG) and other gaseous transportation fuels.

The objective is to create an Alternate Fuels Training Institution which will support itself. The U.S. Department of Energy is also supporting this effort with a “Train the Trainers” program to begin in early 2003. US-AEP support in this area followed the Supreme Court of India’s landmark decision to convert all public transport vehicles in Delhi to CNG. At the conference, which was organized by SIAM and NAFTC with US-AEP support, U.S. representatives made presentations on training in the areas of safety and policy for the use of Alternate Fuels.

With US-AEP support, Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd.; a leading player in the development and implementation of hazardous waste storage, treatment and disposal facilities, has identified a U.S. vendor from which to procure incinerators for their hazardous waste treatment facilities. Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd. requested US-AEP to identify manufacturers and facilitate a business exchange with selected vendors. Following one-on-one meetings and site visits with a number of vendors, they identified Alstrom Power Inc. Two representatives from Alstrom Power Inc. are scheduled to visit Ramky to finalize the agreement. The approximate value of the contract is $4.5 million.