Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 3: The project entitled 'Alternate to Natural Sand' by Aakash V Mehta, Viral R Jain, Urvish K Patel and Rajeev M Panthai, Students of Civil Engineering (2013-14) of St John College of Engineering and Technology, Palghar has been awarded the Innovative Student Projects Award by Indian National Academy of Engineering for the year 2014.

The Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE, www.inae.in), established in 1987, is a ‘Peer’ body of some of the most distinguished engineers in India and abroad. The Academy instituted the Innovative Students Awards since 1998, to identify and recognize innovative and creative research projects undertaken by the students and scholars in the engineering institutions.

The project investigated an innovative substitute sourced from waste construction material to replace the fast depleting sources of natural sand so essential to the building industry. The team was mentored by Dr V V N Prabhakar Rao, Professor of Civil Engineering of the College.

The Award comprised of a certificate and Rs. 10,000/- in cash to each team member of the selected project. The Awards were conferred during the Academy’s Annual Convention that was held on December 12, 2014 at Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Statue Circle, Jaipur.