To commemorate the 160^th birth anniversary of legendary Engineer Sir, M.V.Visvesvaraya, Indian Buildings Congress organized a webinar on “Role of Engineers in Development of Country” on 15^th September, 2020 at 5.00pm.  Shri Pradeep Mittal, President , IBC in his address welcomed Shri O.P.Goel Founder President, IBC; Shri V.K.Jayaswal, DG, CPWD; Shri Anant Kumar, Additional, DG (Tech.),CPWD; Dr. A.K.Mittal, Former, CMD, NBCC; Shri H.P.Gupta, Honorary Secretary, IBC; All viewers and audiences who joined the webinar. He wished a very happy engineer’s day to everybody.  The President, briefed about the vision and role of IBC in promotion of Built environment.

The President, IBC expressed that National Development refers to the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of the people by providing social amenities like good educations, infrastructure, medical care and social services. The purpose of development is to meet the basic needs of the humanity, improve the quality of life for all and ensure a secure future.

He emphasised that the role of Engineers is extremely important in nation building to meet ever-increasing demand for food, water, sanitation, shelter, health services, transportation, energy, communication net work, digitalization of data, manufacturing in industries, and various processes in ensuring the growth and development of a country’s economy as well as in improving the quality of life for citizens. Behind every one of these innovations, there is always an individual or a group of humble engineer. Engineers help to develop the physical infrastructure we all rely on. As such, there is an important link between a country’s engineering capacity and its economic development.

Engineering is one of the key influences that shape our society. Engineers don’t just work with machines, designs and electronics, they use maths and science to provide innovation and inventions that shape our society and improve the way we live and work, he said.

Shri O.P.Goel, founder President, IBC and former DG(W), CPWD, paid his homage to the legendary Engineer Bharat Ratna Sir, M.V.Visvesvaraya.  In his address he briefed about the business system prevalent in our country from Pre-British Raj era to the present times. He quoted the latest examples of manufacturing of PPE Kits and ventilators during Covid-19 by our entrepreneurs which not only met the demand of the country but are also being exported thereby saving lot of foreign reserve. He mentioned that we have to innovate and improve our performance within the country to get desired results.

Shri Goel further mentioned that Engineers are involved in all spheres and facets of development. Infrastructure is the base of all development. In the last few decades we have made significant progress in this sector. Few examples of infrastructure works where we have made significant progress are: highways, expressways, tunnels, new railway lines, added second lane of railways track, electrification of railway track, Metros in major cities, Electrification, Solar power, Wind power, Nuclear power, Micro-Hydel, development of bio-fuel, Ports, Airports, Tourism, Buildings for different user groups, Services etc..

He lauded the role of native engineers and workmen who are 2^nd to none and are in great demand across the world. He also advised for the need of improvement in attitudinal behaviour, discipline, enforcement of timelines and quality requirements. He also emphasised the need of due recognition to engineers in policy making. He concluded by saying- Given due opportunities, the engineers shall be architects of state of art infrastructure enabling emergence of ‘Atam Nirbhar Bharat’.

Shri Anant Kumar, Additional, DG (Tech.), CPWD in his introductory address informed about the diverse role being played by the engineers in development of Nation for the benefit of  mankind.

Shri V.K.Jayaswal, Director General, CPWD, in his address wished happy engineers day to every participant and conveyed his rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Sir M.Visvesvaraya, who was an engineering wizard and eminent statesman. He mentioned that his rich contributions and dedicated service to the nation as an engineer are inspiring and worthy of emulation by all of us. He also lauded the role of IBC since its inception in the field of Built environment. He  further mentioned that Engineers are  the critical agents of change and link between science and society, between policy and practice. India’s  ability to retain its technological edge, in large rests with the engineers.

He further mentioned that our country is going through a major phase of industrialisation and modernisation with a flood of Government construction and infrastructure projects lke Bharat Mala, Sagar Mala, expansion of railways to far flung areas, smart city mission to develop 100 smart cities, Atal Mission for rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 500 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and housing for all by 2022 besides development by private sector. Atamnirbhar Bharat and Make in India are two major national programme designed to establish india as a global manufacturing hub. There is no need to exaggerate the role and involvement of engineers to make these programmes successful; therefore, the engineers have more opportunities to demonstrate their excellence in implementation of these schemes.

He also mentioned about different roles being played by CPWD professionals in nation building across the length and breadth of the country.  He also emphasised that we engineers must aim to meet the challenges of a greater knowledge base and emerging technologies, develop management skills, creativity in problem solving, as well as understanding the risks and uncertainties of the times. Engineering being a multi disciplinary profession, we need to acquire more inter disciplinary knowledge.  He also called upon the engineering fraternity to demonstrate its professional and social responsibilities in an exemplary manner and to remind themselves of their duty to develop a sustainable and prosperous world in harmony with the forces of nature.

Dr. A.K.Mittal, former CMD, NBCC and past President, IBC, in his address mentioned that engineers differ from the society by the nature of their training. While the scientists try to explore the nature world and discover new knowledge about the universe and how it works, engineers apply the knowledge to solve real problems, often with an eye towards improving cost and efficiency. He mentioned that role of engineers in developing country begins with the identification of the problems faced by the people.

Role of an engineers are very crucial in all developmental sectors like, food for all by bringing more and more areas of waste land under cultivation and extending irrigation facilities;  Affordable Housing facilities by designing and constructing low cost houses for the common masses; Sanitation by tackling sanitation service problems by offering different sanitation products and services at affordable prices; Waste management by converting solid and liquid waste into re-usable product; access to healthcare by way of constructing hospitals, dispensaries;  Connectivity and public transportation by constructing roads, railway lines, bridges, tunnels, ports  etc; Electricity – by generating power from non-conventional energy resources like Solar power, Wind Power etc. He also suggested IBC to carry out research and development for innovations of new engineering products and processes.

At the end of the webinar, Shri H.P.Gupta, Honorary Secretary, IBC presented vote of thanks. He thanked all speakers for their valuable speeches and suggestions. He thanked the President IBC for his pro-active approach in organising the webinar. He thanked all the participants who joined the webinar. He also thanked the IBC secretariat staff for their co-operation in organising and smooth conducting of the webinar.