New Delhi, March 26 The Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF) and CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) signed an agreement on Thursday to develop and facilitate solutions for the utilization of waste foundry sand in road construction.
Waste foundry sand is a by-product of the metal casting industry, and poses environmental challenges due to its large-scale generation and disposal requirements.
Dr. N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, in a statement, said, "The utilization of industrial by-products like waste foundry sand in road construction reflects CSIR's commitment to sustainable development and a circular economy.
"Collaborative research and development initiatives such as this will help transform waste into valuable resources while supporting the nation's infrastructure growth."
The agreement aims to promote environmentally sustainable road construction practices, reduce dependency on natural aggregates, provide an effective solution for industrial waste management, and support the Indian government's vision for a circular economy and green infrastructure.
Sushil Sharma, President of the IIF, in a statement said, "The Coimbatore foundry cluster is India's largest foundry cluster... However, it also generates significant quantities of foundry sand waste. This project aims to address these challenges by enabling the scientific reuse of foundry sand in road construction, thereby converting waste into a valuable infrastructure resource."