interaction - Ipt.co.in

INDIAN PLUMBING TODAY 

INTERACTION 

What India needs 

are three things: 

Good Plumbing... 



An interaction with Mr. M. K. Gupta 

Chairman, IPA DC & MD, MKG Consultants 

Mr. M. K. Gupta is a Consulting Engineer in Public Health Engineering, Fire Fighting 

& Allied Services, with more than four decades of experience. He graduated in Civil 

Engineering and worked initially with U. P Jal Nigam. In 1975, he was sent by the Govt. of 

India to Jamaica, West Indies, where he worked for more than 10 years with the National 

Water Commission, Govt. of Jamaica, as a Water Supply/Sanitation Expert. During this 

tenure, Mr. Gupta implemented and commissioned many projects which were funded by 

the World Bank and other International Institutions. 

In 1988, he founded the consulting firm, M/s MKG Consultants located in New Delhi. The 

firm has been associated with various prestigious projects in India & abroad. This year, 

M/s MKG Consultants will be celebrating the completion of 25 years of its establishment. 

He is a visiting faculty to various institutions, and a member of prestigious organizations 

such as IEI India, IWWA, AWWA, WPC & American Society of Plumbing Engineers etc. 

He has presented numerous technical papers and presentations in National Conferences 

on subjects related to his expertise. 

Presently, he is the Chairman of Delhi Chapter of Indian Plumbing Association and 

under his leadership many milestones related to the upliftment of plumbing fraternity 

have been achieved. He was conferred upon with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by 

Indian Plumbing Association in the year 2011. 

Mr. Kamal Khokhani, Publisher – IPT had a detailed interaction with this veteran 

plumbing professional. Here is what transpired… 

MAY 2013 86


INTERACTION 

First thing first – please share with our readers, 

your professional career, so far. 

After my Graduation in Civil Engineering in 1971, 

it was not a matter of choice to select a professional 

career but rather accept what came one’s way. That 

was a time when Civil Engineers were not in great 

demand and one had to accept whatever first 

opportunity came along. 

However, for me, it was a matter of coincidence or 

somehow the hidden Grace of Almighty that from 

day one, an assignment related to engineering 

services and specifically related to water and 

waste water was given to me. 

In my early childhood, during visits to my parental 

village, the irrigation system for agricultural 

purpose consisting of canal, distributor, siphon 

system, open drains, sludge gates etc used to 

fascinate me. These observations strengthened 

my curiosity relating to water and its distribution. 

After a span of four years of working in India, I 

was fortunate to be selected in 1975, as one of the 

members of the Indian Delegation of Experts, by 

National Water Authority, Govt. of Jamaica, West 

Indies, as a good personal diplomatic gesture 

between Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister 

of India & Prime Minister of Jamaica. I was the 

youngest member among the 11 member group, 

consisting of mainly Chief Engineers & Heads of 

various Water Departments of India. 

My tenure of more than ten years in that country 

was a milestone in my life, as I had an opportunity 

to be exposed to various levels of people, during 

With Mr. C S Gupta, Hon. Gen. Secratary - IPA; Dr. Yoganand Shastri 

Ex Minister-Health, Government of Delhi; Mr. Sudhakaran Nair, 

President - IPA during WPD Celebration 

the completion of about 150 projects funded by 

World Bank relating to water and waste water. 

On returning to India in 1985-86 and after working 

with Mr. Deolalikar for about two years, I started 

my own consultancy firm in the name of M/s MKG 

Consultants. This year, we will complete 25 years 

of our organization. During this period, we have 

accomplished a number of prestigious projects 

in India and overseas, relating to 7 star hotels, 

hospitals, townships, malls, low cost sanitation 

and voluntary works in regular sanitation. 

Which are the areas in which your organisation 

renders its expert services? 

Our organization renders its expert services 

in the field of Water, Waste Water, Plumbing, 

Fire Fighting, Solar Hot Water, Solid Waste 

Management, Rain Water Harvesting and 

Industrial Piping, etc. right from concept stage to 

execution stage. 

You have had the opportunity of working abroad. 

How is it different from working in India? 

With Mr. Ron George and his team at IPA New Delhi Chapter 

MAY 2013 87


INTERACTION 

One of the main differences, which I observed 

as a young man working abroad was that there, 

the system of working is very professional, nonbureaucratic, 

transparent and performanceoriented. 

One is duly rewarded for one’s hard 

work and achievement irrespective of one’s age or 

seniority and that is what made me reach to the 

top amongst all the members of my group after 

three years. 

With your rich experience in the field of Public 

Health Engineering, Fire fighting and Allied 

Services, how do you view Indian plumbing 

practices in today’s context? 

Providing the consultancy services in the field of 

public health engineering & allied services in the 

present scenario is a great challenge, especially 

in the present trend of real estate development, 

when all over the place, high-rise buildings are 

coming-up and efficiency and energy-saving in 

the environmental aspects are one of the biggest 

challenges. One has to dedicate one’s time and 

knowledge professionally, though there are lot of 

constraints and demands from the clients’ side 

also. It’s becoming more streamlined and the 

challenge to fulfill the multiple requirements of 

the various stakeholders is higher. 

How far do you think such activities have been 

successful in improving public health and safeguarding 

the environment? 

With the involvement of organizations like Indian 

Plumbing Association and participation of likeminded 

people, lot of awareness have come in the 

minds of people and certain neglected issues in 

sanitation are being given quite a bit importance 

now, whether it is the quality of water, waste water 

treatment plant, recycling, rain water harvesting, 

At WPC booth at ISH - China. Seen in the picture (L to R) : Ms Lily Lee, 

Mr. C S Gupta, Mr. Sudhakaran Nair, Mr. Kamal Khokhani and 

Hans Tiedemann 

fire fighting or solar hot water generation system, 

etc. are concerned. 

In the field of plumbing, bettering the practice + 

employing sustainable techniques is the need of 

the hour. How do you think we can successfully 

achieve the required sustainability ratio? 

Education, standardization, proper understanding 

of the system, awareness through training and 

self-consciousness are the main factors. We 

should try to use the latest products and modern 

techniques, but keeping in mind the sustainability 

of the project with least disturbances, the ecosystem 

of the surrounding environment should 

be balanced accordingly. For example, using 

of multiple rain showers in hotels by high-end 

users may be adopted. However, we have to be 

conscious of selecting the tested, certified and 

standard showers so that excess amount of water 

is not wasted and yet we get the same effect. 

The year 2013 will be observed as ‘International 

Year of Water Co-operation’. In what ways can 

we implement this in Indian context? 

India is one of the developing countries where 

water supply and sanitation needs great attention, 

especially in rural areas. Millions of people 

neither have access to safe drinking water nor 

to the sanitation system. There are still many 

villages where there is not a single water supply 

system or toilet facilities. Spreading the awareness 

in this field and implementing practical solutions 

for safe drinking water and sanitation shall be a 

great contribution in Indian context. Celebration 

of World Plumbing Day on March 11, every year in 

India by Indian Plumbing Association along with 

MAY 2013 88


INTERACTION 

World Plumbing Council to spread the awareness 

is one of the steps. 

How do you review a change in the plumbing 

industry with the implementation of various 

plumbing codes? 

Till recently, there was no Uniform Plumbing 

Code in India especially for the plumbing services 

inside the campuses of the buildings. Indian 

Plumbing Association along with IAPMO did a 

great job by publishing Uniform Plumbing Codes 

and reviewing them after a fixed period. These 

codes along with illustrations and guidelines 

can be very helpful in the plumbing industry, if 

properly followed. 

In your view, how can planning and architecture 

aid to smooth plumbing installations? 

This is a very important aspect for a project 

for achieving good plumbing installation. An 

architect & plumbing designer should sit down 

together from the concept stage of the project 

so that, proper co-ordination is done from the 

beginning for providing sufficient space and size 

of the shaft, for doing proper structural planning 

accordingly and co-ordination with other services 

so that there are no hindrances / compromises in 

future in implementing the scheme. 

Please share with us your journey in the IPA in 

brief. 

Since the very beginning, when Shri S.G. Deolalikar 

ji thought of forming Indian Plumbing Association 

with like-minded people in 1993, I had tried to 

associate myself with the activities in one way or 

another, though I was not an active member in 

the beginning. However, it was in 2007, that Shri 

C.S. Gupta ji and his team members approached 

me to take the responsibility of the Chairman of 

IPA-Delhi Chapter. From that time, I have been 

very actively involved in various activities of IPA 

in this region. This shall be my third tenure as 

Chairman of IPA-Delhi Chapter with the dedicated 

committee-members to bring the chapter to the 

highest level among all the other chapters. 

As Chairman of Indian Plumbing Association’s 

Delhi Chapter, please share with our readers 

about the vast activities that are undertaken and 

the chapter’s growth. 

As Chairman of Indian Plumbing Association’s 

Delhi Chapter, following are some of the 

highlights: 

• Till date, IPA-DC has grown to 327 members. 

• 20 Seminars/ Events have been organized till 

date including 15th IPC. 

• IPADC won ‘Best Performance Award’ in 2009-10. 

How do you see IPA five years from now? 

If, all of us, as like-minded people keep working 

with the same current enthusiasm, motivation 

and selfless goal, I can say undoubtedly, IPA could 

become the strongest fraternity in the plumbing 

field and its name will not only be recognized 

in India, but also at the international level, as we 

have very capable leaders and working members. 

With Mr. S G Deolalikar during Indian Plumbing Conference at New Delhi 

What, according to you, should be the thrust 

area for IPA, now on? 

Implementation of already framed codes, training 

and awareness in various parts of India and not 

concentrating only on a few cities. 

MAY 2013 89


INTERACTION 

What are your views about skill development 

for better plumbing practices in the country? 

This is a very crucial factor for doing good 

plumbing installation especially in our country. 

At present, we are very very short of skilled 

manpower in plumbing industry. Most of the 

people are doing their job in plumbing in their own 

way and in a very unorganized manner, whether 

they are designers, manufacturers or contractors. 

For example, anybody without proper training 

and education becomes a plumber, just by holding 

a wrench in his hand for few months. This needs 

to be checked very strictly and therefore, we have 

to provide the training and certificate courses all 

over India at various levels. 

How do you perceive the significance of World 

Plumbing Day with respect to the Indian context? 

As already explained, the World Plumbing Day 

has become extremely significant, especially 

in the Indian context, where so many people 

are deprived of good sanitation facilities. This 

will definitely spread the awareness for good 

plumbing among the people and hence, improve 

the health of citizens of India and the economy 

will automatically have positive impact. 

With IPA hosting the 10th World Plumbing 

Conference this November, it will be creating 

yet another milestone in its achievements. How 

is the IPA preparing to create a distinct mark 

and impact with the same? 

I think IPA is preparing to host the 10th World 

Plumbing Conference in November at New Delhi 

in a very meticulous, systematic and exciting 

way! India is already famous for its hospitality. 

However, being one of the members of the Steering 

Committee, I can emphatically say that, under the 

leadership of our President, IPA is making its full 

efforts to make this event a very successful and 

mega one, whether it is the matter of speakers, 

topics of various sessions, cultural programs or 

hospitality to the partners. God willing, this should 

be a landmark event in plumbing industry of India. 

You have dual responsibilities as far as WPC 

2013 is concerned – as a member of Steering 

Committee and as Chairman of Host Chapter. 

How have you and your team at IPADC geared 

up to make it a mega and memorable event? 

Under the umbrella of IPA Delhi Chapter, we have 

formed the following committees to assist and to 

provide contribution to the event: 

a) Reception & Registration Committee - Headed 

by Mr S. K. Duggal 

b) Hospitality & F&B Committee - Headed by 

Mr B. P. Gupta 

c) Logistics & Stage Control Committee – Headed 

by Mr Manish Jain 

Besides this, I will be interacting with other 

colleagues, and try to provide assistance for 

whatever best can be done. 

How do you rate IPT as a platform for 

dissemination of information amongst the 

plumbing professionals? 

This is a highly rated magazine and as per the 

previous record, people look forward for every 

issue as it provides great information. 

As one of the members of Editorial Board of IPT, 

what changes do you perceive and plan to bring in 

to make the magazine even more reader-friendly? 

We are trying to get more and more professional 

people involved by contributing their experience, 

technical knowledge, etc. Recently we have formed 

an IPT Round Table in which, we are planning 

to send sets of technical questions on prevailing 

problems to experienced members in the relative 

fields so that we can get their feedback and publish 

them in the form of articles in IPT. 

With his wife Mrs. Nirmal Gupta at VIEGA Factory in Germany 

What message would you like to convey to the 

members of the plumbing fraternity, through 

this interaction with IPT? 

Please join us whole-heartedly and support our 

fraternity selflessly to be able to project the idea 

everywhere of good plumbing, good plumbing 

and good plumbing! IPT 

MAY 2013 90

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