Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering

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About the Centre

Established in 1991, this Centre has developed a vigorous culture of applied environmental research, teaching, and industrial consultancy. Several dynamic PhDs and MTechs, trained in frontier research areas, in India and abroad, contribute to the pool of manpower expertise of the centre; the laboratories/units manned by them provide the momentum for cutting edge R&D that strives to carve fresh niches and open new vistas.
The effort has been peer-recognized in the form of major international and national prizes, election to the fellowship of premier academies/professional bodies, and nomination on the editorial boards of prestigious technical journals.

+91-413-2654919

head.cpe@pondiuni.ac.in

Vision and Message of Centre Head

Dr. S. Gajalakshmi

Professor

The vision is to integrate social responsibility, sustainable existence, novelty, innovativeness, rigour and sophistication in all the activities of the Centre. The Centre is offering PhD Environmental Technology since its inception in 1991, MTech Environmental Engineering and Management since 2007 and BTech Environmental Engineering from the academic year 2025- 26. Our committed faculty strive to enhance the educational experiences of students, focusing on research-oriented learning and skill development to cultivate expertise in environmental engineering. The Centre prioritizes high-quality education and training, cutting-edge research, and providing technical support to academia, industry, and society, alongside various outreach initiatives. In alignment with our vision, the Centre aims to develop a workforce equipped with technical knowledge and skills. Our steadfast dedication to educational excellence, pioneering research, and the quest for innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues propels us to aspire for greater achievements. This path of progress and success is driven by the enthusiasm of our students, the commitment of our faculty, and the reputation of our alumni. Together, we look forward for a sustainable future while advancing the frontiers of innovation and excellence in Environmental Engineering

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Office Contact Details

+91-413-2654-362

office.cpee@pondiuni.ac.in

Programmes Offered

B.Tech. Environmental Engineering

M.Tech. Environmental Engineering & Management

Ph.D. Environmental Technology & Engineering

Faculty

Dr. S. Gajalakshmi

Professor

Dr. P. Senthil Kumar

Associate Professor

Er. S. Sudalai

Assistant Professor

Dr. T.D. Rushendra Revathy

Assistant Professor

Infrastructure

The Centre is housed in a stand-alone building funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It also hosts a Computer-Aided Environmental Management Unit established with support from AICTE and has received additional assistance for developing environmental biotechnology facilities. Numerous R&D projects have enhanced the Centre’s infrastructure, adding advanced laboratory and field equipment. Current facilities support:

Wastewater Treatment
Solid Waste Management
Air and Noise Pollution Monitoring and Control
Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment
Pollution Control via Bioprocess Engineering
Risk Assessment and Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Biotechnology

Thrust Area of Teaching & Research

Teaching

Physico-chemical and Biological Treatment of Water and Wastewater
Water and Wastewater Transport
Air and Noise Pollution Control
Solid Waste Management
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Climate Change Studies
Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Pollutants
Ecology and Environmental Biotechnology
Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Industrial Waste Management
Circular Economy and Sustainable Development

Research

Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery
Macrophyte-Integrated Vermifiltration Systems
Vermicomposting for Solid Waste Management
Adsorption Technologies and Activated Carbon
Alternative Fuels and Biochar/Hydrochar
Electrochemical Sensors
Emerging Contaminants
Environmental Nanobiotechnology and Pollution Control
Utilization of Lignocellulosic Biomass
Water Pollution Control and Analysis
Macro and Microplastic Assessment and Baseline Studies
Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment
Sustainability Reporting
Occupational Health and Informal Sector Engagement
Environmental Education
Biofuel Technologies
Carbon Capture and Storage
Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Achievements

The Faculty of the Centre serve as expert members on committees of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Local Administration Department (LAD), Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC), Department of Science, Technology & Environment (DSTE), and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Recognized in the Top 2% Scientists reported by Elsevier and Stanford University, United States; and as Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers, ranked #3 in India among Best Scientists (Environmental Sciences) from Research.com

Received prestigious accolades including:

AICTE National Technical Teachers Award
Institution of Engineers Awards
Hiyoshi “Think of Ecology” Award
Careers360 Commendable Faculty Award
State Award for Electoral Excellence (Carbon Initiative, Lok Sabha Elections 2024)

Sustainability Innovations & Impactful Contributions

Three-seater chairs made from plastic waste
Plastic bricks and stabilized bricks from industrial/domestic waste
Feasibility studies on pharmaceutical and glass industry waste
Traditional tile-making integrated with carbon credit framework

Assisted in municipal solid waste reforms, including:

Closure of open dumping/burning at Kottakuppam (TN)
SDG 11.6.1 based assessments
Single-use plastic producer empanelment as recyclers
Monitoring of temple festival waste with policy recommendations

Placement & Internships

Alumni have secured faculty positions at IIT Roorkee, Texas A&M University (USA), Mahatma Gandhi University, CUSAT, BITS Pilani, University of Petroleum (Dehradun), and others.
Recruited as Scientists in CSIR labs and officers in Pollution Control Boards.
Leadership roles in industries including CRL, CPCL, Coal India Ltd., and Hindustan Lever.
Graduates pursue further studies in premier institutions in India, USA, Europe, and the UK.
Internships are mandatory and span across PWD, DSTE, NLC, reputed private companies, and national NGOs.

Research Projects

The Centre is actively supported by premier funding agencies such as:

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
Department of Science and Technology (DST)
University Grants Commission (UGC)
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

In collaboration with organizations like Hand in Hand, Recity, and Saahas, the Centre contributes to plastic circularity baseline studies. Partnering with PWD and municipal bodies, it assesses plastic leakages across Puducherry with a focus on sustainability and integration of the informal and unorganized sectors. The Centre also undertakes a wide range of industrial consultancy projects.

Pondicherry University

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The Registrar,
R Venkat Raman Nagar, Kalapet
Pondicherry - 605 014, India
registrar@pondiuni.edu.in
Tel : 0413 - 2655179 Fax : 0413 - 2655734

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