Interview with an Environmental Engineer- M. Goutham Reddy
New Delhi, June 16 - M Goutham Reddy has a Master's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada. He underwent training in waste management in Australia and environmental monitoring in Sweden. He is currently executive director of Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, which is part of a Hyderabad-based business group employing about a hundred environmental engineers, postgraduates in environmental science and graduates in science and boasts of clients such as the Tata group and Reliance. Excerpts from an interview:
When and why did Ramky get into waste management?
The basic thinking started in '93-'94. Finally, the first facility started in 1999-2000. We were into environment consultancy, building effluent treatment plants etc. We decided that we should focus on managing solid waste.
Since 2000, how has your business evolved?
The challenges have been very different. Initially, the challenge was to make people understand that waste has to be managed. We operate on the user-pays principle. But the users - hospitals, industries, municipalities - weren't convinced. They didn't want to pay.
Then, there is the NIMBY (not in my backyard) mentality. People would say, ‘waste management is important but it should not be done in my town'. You may keep a garbage bin in your apartment but will you let a (community) garbage collection bin kept opposite your house be? The answer is, no. The waste collection point and waste management plant will be close to somebody's residence. That creates resistance. People would say, ‘It's not technically-sound. It's not scientifically sound.' It's a perpetual problem we are facing. We are trying to manage it.
How has your business grown?
It has grown very well. In 2000, we started without any revenue. Today, Ramky Enviro Engineers' revenue is more than Rs 500 crore a year.
What are the prospects in this field?
The opportunities are bright. Every municipality has large amounts of waste to handle.
There is scope for environmental engineers here. They should specialise in solid waste management. At present, the whole curriculum in environmental studies dwells on water, air and ecology. That needs to change to one which caters to (solid) waste management.
Tell us something about your waste management philosophy.
We follow the 3Rs of waste management - reduce use, reuse, and recycle. What can't be recycled is used for making compost, energy (through refuse-derived fuel) and biogas.
Author: Rahat Bano (HT Horizons)
Date: 18th June, 2010
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