A team from IIT Kharagpur comprising Rajarshi Bhar, Joydeepa Taran and Anil, guided by Prof. Brajesh Kumar Dubey from the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur has been awarded the first prize in the Ideas4Life initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change under the category of “Save Water.” The winners were felicitated on the World Environment Day function on 5th June, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change applauded the initiative, stating it had successfully surfaced innovative, citizen-centric, and sustainable solutions that pave the way for environmentally responsible living.
‘Ideas4LiFE’ is a national ideathon, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with UNICEF YuWaah, launched under the visionary framework of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Out of 1384 entries received from across India, 21 innovative solutions were selected, representing the top 3 ideas in each of the seven Mission LiFE themes. The team from IIT Kharagpur secured their position in the ‘Save Water’ category with their pioneering idea, “Reducing Water Footprint Using Raw Sewage during Hydrothermal Carbonization.”
The project proposes an innovative solution to use raw municipal sewage as a moisture source during the production of lignocellulosic hydrochar, effectively reducing the dependence on freshwater. This approach not only advances water conservation efforts but also integrates waste management with renewable energy production, making it a scalable and sustainable intervention.
Launched on July 29, 2024 at IIT Delhi, the ‘Ideas4LiFE’ platform invited innovative ideas addressing one of seven key themes: Save Water; Save Energy; Reduce Waste; Reduce E-Waste; Say No to Single-Use Plastics; Adopt Sustainable Food Systems and Adopt Healthy Lifestyles. The competition followed a rigorous three-phase selection process, including evaluation by experts from the Department of Higher Education and a national jury constituted by the Ministry. This recognition is a testament to IIT Kharagpur’s commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and societal impact through science and technology.
What Is the Research About?
This project is about making coal-like fuel from farm waste (like straw and husk) in a way that saves water and helps protect the environment.
How Does It Work?
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Agricultural Waste to Fuel:
Farmers often have leftover dry plant materials (called lignocellulosic residues). Using a process called Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC), these materials are converted into hydrochar, a type of clean, solid fuel that can replace coal.
- Saving Water by Using Sewage:Usually, clean water is needed for HTC. But this research found that raw sewage (untreated wastewater) can be used instead of clean water without affecting fuel quality. This reduces water usage drastically and repurposes waste sewage.
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Generating Electricity from Wastewater:
After the fuel is made, the leftover water (called “process water”) is treated using a microbial fuel cell — a device that cleans the water and produces electricity at the same time.
Why is this important?
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Huge Water Savings: Using sewage instead of clean water can reduce water scarcity impact up to 73 times depending on the location.
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Cleaner Environment: This method causes 7 times less water pollution (eutrophication).
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Alternative to Coal: Hydrochar can be a cheap and eco-friendly fuel, especially as coal prices continue to rise.
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Utilizes Waste: This idea uses both farm waste and city sewage, turning two types of waste into valuable resources.
Who can use this?
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Ministries like Rural Development, Environment, Agriculture, Urban Affairs, and Renewable Energy can help roll out this technology at scale.
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The team already has a pilot machine (10-liter scale) funded by Indo-German Science and Technology Centre to prove this works outside the lab.
What’s next?
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The team is exploring how this can work in Indian villages and towns, especially in states that produce a lot of farm waste.
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They are also looking at using the by-products (like treated water, bioelectricity, and nutrient-rich material) for fertilizers, energy production, or growing microbes used in various industries.
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Summary
Imagine turning farm leftovers and dirty city water into eco-friendly charcoal and electricity. No waste, less pollution, and a step toward a cleaner, greener India.
About Mission LiFE
Mission LiFE, an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a ground-breaking step towards sustainable living. Standing for ‘Lifestyle for Environment,’ this mission underscores the importance of individual actions in combating climate change. By emphasizing small yet impactful lifestyle changes, it aims to create a collective global effort to protect our environment. Mission LiFE was not just an Indian initiative but a global call to action, jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It is a testament to how individual responsibility can foster a sustainable future for the entire planet. This powerful endorsement underlines the initiative’s potential to inspire change well beyond national borders, encouraging a worldwide movement towards more sustainable living practices. Through Mission LiFE, the synergy of individual choices and global collaboration is highlighted as a potent force in addressing environmental challenges. The support from the UN amplifies the message that sustainable living is not just a choice but a necessity for the future of our planet. It’s a clarion call for everyone, everywhere, to rethink their lifestyles and make choices that contribute positively to the Earth’s well-being.
Media Links:
| PIB | Times of India |
| Kolkata Hindi News |
Statesman Ananda Bazar Patrika
Coalfield Mirror
Inputs from: Prof. Brajesh Kumar Dubey, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
Email: bkdubey@civil.iitkgp.ac.in
Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007
