Scope of Environmental Engineering in India

• With the growing pollutions, and unpredictable environmental conditions, Environmental Engineering has become the most required career option among the young generations.
• It is a broad field which focuses on the principles of science and engineering to protect and improve our environmental conditions. The main area of this study includes air pollution control, industrial hygiene, radiation protection, hazardous waste management, toxic materials control, recycling, water supply, wastewater management, storm water management, solid waste disposal, and public health and land management.
   

• In India, there are several engineering colleges who are conducting undergraduates, post graduates and doctoral course in Environmental Engineering.
• There are universities who offer Environmental Engineering as a supplementary subject with bachelor’s degree in civil, chemical or mechanical engineering. Civil Engineering with Environmental Engineering as a subject focuses on water resources management, designing of water treatment plant, hydrology etc. In Chemical Engineering the focus is on environmental chemistry, air and water treatment technologies and separation process.
• As already mentioned above, to get an admission in 4 years undergraduate  Environmental Engineering the basic criteria the candidate must have is to clear 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with good marks.  Similarly, for 2 year post graduate degree course i.e. M.E/ M.Tech.in environmental engineering the candidate need to give the admission test through Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) or the written examination conducted by the respective institute and interviews. After completing the post graduate, the interested candidate can pursue their Research (M.Phil) and Doctoral programmes (Ph.D). The admission to do M.Phil and Ph.D are based upon candidate’s academic record, interviewor written test. 
• The course in Environmental Engineering covers the areas like atmospheric chemistry, environmental organic chemistry, hydrology, surface water quality engineering, surface water quality modeling, the quality of the air and the construction environment and boundary layer meteorology. Practical are done which focus on current environmental issues.
• There are several Degree, Diploma and Certificate courses for an interested candidate who wants to pursue a career in Environmental Engineering. They are as follows:

1. B.E. Environmental Engineering
2. B.E. Environmental Science and Engineering
3. B.Tech. Environmental Engineering
4. M.E. Environmental Engineering
5. M.Tech. Environmental Engineering

Some of the Institutions for studying Environmental Engineering are:

1. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
2. SRM University
3. Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh
4. Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering), New Delhi
5. MAM College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

There is a wide career scope for a candidate after studying Environmental Engineering.  They are in demand for solving water and air pollution related issues. There are several places where an Environmental Engineer can be employed. They are as follows:

•  Environmental Engineers get employed in Central and State pollution control boards and various NGOs. 
• They can work on the projects like air pollution control, green house gases, ozone depletion, side effects of pollution on human being, animals and plants, water quality management, land conservation, soil conservation and report on environmental impact of proposed construction projects.
• An Environmental Engineer gets recruited in Government agencies or departments as health and safety officer who monitors and regulates the waste discharges.
• To develop the systems on pollution control, Environmental Engineers get employed in Laboratories.
• Environmental Engineer gets employed in Municipal agencies, which designs and take care of the water supply systems.
• Work in various industries or companies where the wok is to treat and dispose of the harmful chemicals.
• An environmental engineer can also get employed in manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies.
•  They can also get jobs in International firms which works for environmental related projects. 
• Besides all the above, job opportunities, an Environmental Engineer can also teach and do research work on environmental control on Universities or Colleges.
• They can also work as consultants which help their clients in regulations and to clean up harmful and hazardous sites. 
• Factories like distilleries, fertilizers plants, textile mills, water treatment industries, refineries, mines, food processing industries etc. recruit environmental engineers.

Some of the leading private corporate firms employ environmental engineers for various requirements: -
 
•    AECOM
•    MACTEC
•    SPML Infra Limited
•    Sima Labs Pvt Ltd.
•    Kalpan Hydro Company
•    Goodrich Corporation
•    Brunel India Pvt Ltd
•    Privi Organics Limited
•    Brunel India Pvt Ltd
•    Dresser-Rand India Pvt Ltd
•    The Indure Private Limited
 

There are few skills that are required to become an Environmental Engineer. They are as follows:

• An Environmental Engineer should have an organization, logical thinking and analytical skills. 
• They must have the ability to apply the principles of environmental engineering to their taskswith scientific aptitude.
• He should be good in both verbal and written communications.
• They must have the skill of creative and innovative thinking.
• Must be flexible in his work.
• Give attention to every minute detail.
• He should have good time management skills.
• He should keep himself up to date.
• He should have the ability of decision making and problem solving skills. 
• He should have the ability to work under pressure and meet his deadlines. 
   

• The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore offers Distance Education course in Environmental Engineering. 

• An Environmental Engineer has a big range of career opportunities for the professionals who are qualified in chemical, biological, thermal, radioactive or mechanical engineering.
• Professionals from process engineering, environmental chemistry, water and sewage treatment, waste reduction management, pollution prevention, etc are in great demand.
• Candidates who are qualified professionals in environmental engineering get job opportunities in research centers, NGOs,
  • To pursue a career in Environmental Engineering, the basic eligibility criteria the candidate must have is to clear 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with good marks. 
  • To get an admission in the 4 year course of Environmental Engineering the candidate must clear their entrance examination like All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), IIT Joint Entrance Examinations or there are institutes, universities, states who conduct their own examinations separately. 
     

  The job responsibilities of an Environmental Engineer include:

  • To prepare, review and update the environmental reports.
  • To design the projects on environmental issues like air pollution control systems, convert the waste material to energy, etc.
  • To maintain the standard operational procedures, permits and update the same.
  • To provide technical support for the environmental projects and on legal matters.
  • To analyze the scientific data.
  • To monitor the progress of environmental improvements.
  • To give advice to the government and corporation agencies about the procedures to clean up the polluted sites.
     
  • The salary structure of an Environmental Engineer depends upon the candidate’s experience, expertise in particular field, area of employment etc. 
  • The salary of a licensed engineer is approx. Rs. 1 lac per month. An Environmental Engineer with work experience and specialized training gets higher pay package. 
  • Environmental Engineers working on projects gets attractive pay packages and incentives.
  • The approx. salary for the candidates with B.E/B.Tech in Environmental Engineering gets an initial salary of approx. Rs. 15,000/- to Rs. 30,000/- per month.
  • Candidates who have postgraduate degree earn a salary of approx. Rs. 35,000/- to Rs. 55,000/- per month.
  • Candidates who have Ph.D. degree gets salary approx. Rs. 50,000/- per month.