Professor Mahesh Tandon

Professor Mahesh Tandon of ‘Tandon Consultants’ is one of India’s leading structural engineers.

What is sustainability?

Our understanding of sustainability has gradually grown through the decades since its inception as an idea, as a concept, to its realisation as a practice. From the initial understanding of sustainability as a judicious usage of available resources, we have now come to perceive the importance of a “cradle to grave” assessment of each project. The entire process, from siting, designing and construction, to repair and maintenance to its final demolition, is required to be conducted in a manner such that it does not exhaust and demand from natural and material resources more than is imperative.

Professor Mahesh Tandon shows us how this can been done when the opportunities available naturally, are taken advantage of as compared to simply relying on the customary practices that we have been following unquestioningly through a majority of our projects. Can we use less structure and more earth ramps and embankments? Can we reduce, reuse and recycle by using especially in bridge construction, recycled aggregates, flyash and other materials that are friendlier to the environment? The durability of the structure only benefits from most of these materials.