Kolkata, Feb 2 (IANS) Thanks to an innovative French technology that purifies contaminated water from lakes and ponds, residents of an arsenic-contaminated village in West Bengal now have access to safe drinking water.
Not only that, inhabitants of Madhusudan Kanti village in Gaighata block of North 24 Parganas district are also packaging the safe water and selling it to neighbouring villages, a release said.
"This is an innovative model from a joint venture of Sulabh International and French organisation 1001 Fontaines, which through various stages of purification provides safe drinking water from any water body like rivers or ponds.
"This is the first time in the world that we have succeeded in producing pure drinking water at a very nominal cost with this new technology and villagers may get direct benefit," Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak said in the statement.
The water purification process has a capacity to produce 8,000 litres of potable water per day at a cost of 10 paise (Rs.0.10).
"It will be sold at 50 paise after including other costs like distribution, storing, etc. Even people in neighbouring villages can also safely use this water," Pathak said.
The pilot project was initiated in three Bengal districts - North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia - a few months ago and trial runs proved successful.
The installation cost of the machine comes to Rs.20 lakh, which was shared between the two organisations and the villagers.
"The villagers and local NGOs are going to maintain it. It is a self-sustainable project with active participation from the villagers and will generate employment," Pathak said.
According to the World Health Organization, drinking arsenic-rich water over a long period results in various health hazards, including skin problems, skin cancer, cancer of the bladder, kidney and lung, besides other diseases.
Threat to bank woman: You will hit such a nail in husband's head that you will not be able to count...the whole family is a thief
Neither took a loan nor became a guarantor in anyone's loan, yet the bank workers are harassing to deposit the installment. Businessman Ranjit Singh, the resident of the New Panchvati Colony of
World Bank cautioned! Global economic growth is in danger, these are the reasons
According to a World Bank report, global economic growth is under threat. According to the report, global economic growth will fall to 4.1 percent in 2022 and 3.2 percent in 2023. This decline will be
Modi government's big decision on One Nation-One Election, preparations to bring three bills; know the plan
The central government is very serious about one country's election. The government is likely to bring three bills to conduct simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly, and local
DMK to protest against land bill on March 20
Chennai, March 13 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi said on Friday the party would protest across Tamil Nadu on March 20, condemning the BJP government's attempts to pass the land bill in
Weather Update Today: Warning of heavy rain in these states including UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, know- latest weather updates
It is raining these days in most of the states across the country. Rivers are in spate due to heavy rains in many states and flood-like situations in some areas. The Meteorological Department has
Mamta's government snatched the ministerial post from Partha Chatterjee, now there is a demand to remove him from the party
West Bengal SSC recruitment scam accused Partha Chatterjee has been stripped of his ministerial post amid demands to be expelled from the party. The West Bengal government gave this information on
Tata took over Air India: Air India's homecoming after 69 years, Chairman Chandrasekaran met PM Modi before the official takeover
There has been a big change this year for the country's aviation industry of Rs 1.2 lakh crore. Government company Air India has become private with effect from 27 January 2022. Tata Sons have
Cleaner dies in custody: Police stop Priyanka Gandhi from going to Agra, detained
Once the political atmosphere in UP seems to be heating up regarding the death in police custody of the sweeper Arun Kumar, who was caught on suspicion of stealing Rs 25 lakh from the Malkhana of
Zombie Drug: People becoming zombies due to the effect of this drug! The increased danger in many cities in America, the government worried
Often you must have seen in Hollywood movies, in which people become zombies after coming in contact with some mysterious virus and start looking like ghosts. Now this is happening in reality. In
Himachal Rain: Terrible scene in Kullu, three buildings collapsed like cards; Watch the havoc of the disaster in the video
Heavy Rain in Himachal: The rain has created a ruckus in Himachal Pradesh. It has been raining continuously in the state for the last 36 hours. Heavy rain has become a major reason for the loss of
