CII plans roadmap for creation of southern gas grid

Chennai:

Confederation of Indian Industry will conduct a study on roadmap for creation of Southern Gas Grid as the southern part of India lags way behind when it comes to availability of gas, according to CII chairman southern region B Santhanam.

Addressing reporters after taking assuming the new office, Santhanam said the southern gas grid would be one the key priorities of CII southern region. “If Southern India fails to have a gas grid we will at disadvantage when compared to countries like China and US,” he said.

Interestingly, it is believed that global demand for natural gas is likely to rise faster by 2017 as US and China will are likely to switch from coal to gas to generate electricity.

Interestingly, CII is also focusing on robotics and proposes technology development center for robotics in two cities. One of them may be Coimbatore but then the concept is still in the planning stage. Robots can help do intricate works in small and medium enterprises. “In small scale foundries in Coimbatore, they can be used to perform hazardous tasks. These technology development centers could also help in people coming forward to test their ideas,” said Santhanam.

He also mooted the idea of additive manufacturing and suggested technology development centers in two cities of south India. Additive manufacturing is a new technology in the manufacturing scene which uses three-dimensional printing to transform engineering design files into fully functional and durable objects

created from sand, metal and glass. Manufacturers across several industries are using this digital manufacturing process to produce a range of products, including: engine components for automotive applications, impellers and blades for aerospace use, patternless

sand molds for pumps used in the oil and energy industry, and medical prosthetics which require easily adaptable design modifications.

He also said that CII will actively engage with state manufacturing competitiveness councils to facilitate growth of the sector besides advocating water policy at state levels. He also said that CII will actively promote CII Indian Women Network besides proposing to plan and implement corporate social responsibility exchange through pool of projects across identified verticals.