Srinagar, October 19, 2025 – A breakthrough in green technology and eco-innovation, two senior faculty members of the National Institute of Technology Srinagar have been awarded a considerable research grant of Rs 73.6 lakh by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India. The grant is funding an innovative bioremediation research study that is applying microbial and biological processes to treat persistent environmental pollutants, a notable milestone in green engineering and pollution control.
The research study, “Development of Bioengineered Microbial Consortia for Enhanced Bioremediation of Emerging Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems,” is conducted by Dr. Ayesha Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering. Their joint research aims at developing sophisticated microbial consortia that can break down recalcitrant contaminants like pharmaceutical waste, heavy metals, and plastic microplastics in water bodies, providing eco-friendly alternatives to replace traditional chemical treatments.”The bioremediation project is a convergence of pioneering biotechnology and engineering technologies addressing real-world environmental issues,” stated Dr. Ayesha Khan. “Given that climate change has multiplied pollution in vulnerable ecosystems such as those of Jammu and Kashmir, our research seeks to create scalable, low-cost solutions that make sustainable development possible and restore ecological equilibrium.”The SERB research grant for the Core Research Grant (CRG) scheme will support a three-year research project involving laboratory tests, field tests, and computational simulations. The major features are isolation and genetic engineering of native microbes from local water sources, optimization of the biodegradation route, and pilot-scale demonstrations in polluted zones of the Kashmir Valley.
The project will likely generate new bioremediation technologies, which can be used to become part of national wastewater policy.Achievement was greeted by NIT Srinagar Director, Prof. Rakesh Sehgal, saying, “Securing this prestigious research funding reflects the institute’s vision for interdisciplinary research in environmental science and green technologies. This path-breaking project not only enhances NIT Srinagar’s credentials in international sustainability initiatives but also enables our faculty to make worthwhile contributions towards India’s green agenda.”The project is in alignment with national priorities envisioned in the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which stress biological remediation as a key to pollution mitigation.
Early deliverables are most likely to be peer-reviewed scientific papers, patent applications for bio-engineered strains, and partner-industry collaborations towards commercialization. The success story points towards increasing strength of NIT Srinagar in securing competitive research grants, in the wake of recent achievements in fields like renewable energy and AI-based agriculture. As environmental degradation steadily increases in threat, these bioremediation technologies offer hope for cleaner, healthier environments.
