Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits Salt and Chemicals Research Institute in Gujarat

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan was recently on a visit of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI). It is situated in Bhavnagar Gujarat.

Visited CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute Bhavnagar - Lab works in applied research domains. pic.twitter.com/Ft8bj4IEti

— Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 27, 2016

Dr. Harsh Vardhan was accompanied by Mrs. Bhartiben Shiyal, Member of Parliament from Bhavnagar constituency and Shri Rajendra Singh Rana, Former Member of Parliament.

The Minister who is also the Vice President of CSIR after the visit said that, "Research is not always about generating big money but about ideas that can bring big changes in the life of common man."

Research is not always abt generating big money but abt ideas that can bring big changes in the life of common man. pic.twitter.com/q5xBU3rYYB

— Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 27, 2016

When Dr. Harsh Vardhan visited CSIR-CSMCRI, the institute's Director made a presentation on the institute's activities. The minister also inspected the Mobile Water Purification Unit and Jatropha biodiesel based vehicle of the Institute.

Post which he visited the Reverse Osmosis Division, Marine Biotechnology & Ecology Division and Centralised Instrumentation Facility of the Institute.

The minister was highly impresses by the institute and he appreciated the work done by all the laboratories of the CSIR.

CSIR - the only Indian institution in the first hundred out of 4851 of the whole world Congratulations my scientists pic.twitter.com/GqklMCPVEl

— Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 24, 2016

Dr. Harsh Vardhan in Gujarat:

While in Gujarat Dr. Harsh Vardhan also presided over the signing of technology transfer agreement for making liquid seaweed fertiliser from Sargassum algae by a Ramanthapuram (Tamil Nadu) based start-up company M/s Seaferte Industries which procured the license for the technology.

The Minister also interacted with representatives of Gujarat Credo Mineral Industries Ltd. (GCMIL), Ahmedabad to which the technology for the production of Zeolite from low grade bauxite of the Kutch region has been transferred by CSIR-CSMCRI.

About CSIR-CSMCRI:

The institute engages in the applied research domains in the fields like drinking water, clean and renewable energy, wealth from waste, cultivation and processing of commercially important algae and harnessing ocean resources. It works not only for edible and industrial grade salt, but also for other very valuable products like potash and magnesia.

Research at CSIR-CSMCRI includes drinking water, clean & ren-energy, wealth from waste, harnessing ocean resources. pic.twitter.com/arH3aZ4gTc

— Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 27, 2016

Inspection of high purity salt manufacturing process:

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also carried out an inspection of CSIR-CSMCRI's Experimental Salt Farm in Khumbharwada. At Khumbharwada he assessed the high purity salt manufacturing process and value addition in solar salt works.

Lab tech for prod of Zeolite A frm low grade Bauxite in Kutch has had successful trial at GCMI ltd- me at salt farm. pic.twitter.com/x8px5vhFuw

— Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 27, 2016

The research being carried out in this institute is unique as CSMCRI is the only laboratory in the country that is addressing research on salt.

The Minister stressed that the research on salt must aim towards improving economic conditions and ensure livelihood security of the small scale salt manufacturers.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also visited the Institute's Halophyte Park and 0.75 TPD Sulphate of Potash test bed.