Bengal varsity, Swiss researchers create safe water zones

Kolkata, Dec 22 (IANS) Calcutta University, which has tied up with a Swiss research centre for providing safe drinking water, Saturday said it has already created “safe water zones” across six West Bengal districts and is keen to bring in more regions under the project.

The varsity’s Women’s Studies Research Centre (WSRC) is carrying out the project in collaboration with Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), one of the world’s leading aquatic research institutes, through the WHO-recommended low-cost solar disinfection (SODIS) of water with a view to keep water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera at bay.

WSRC director Ishita Mukhopadhyay said the research centre was on the move to sensitise SODIS to the people in North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Kolkata as well as North and South 24 Parganas (including Sunderbans region) districts.

The project was being funded by SOLAQUA Foundation, Switzerland.

“Our project aims at ensuring that households treat their drinking water before consumption. Currently, about 10,000 households spread over the safe water zones have adopted the simple technique that involves subjecting a white PET bottle ranging from 500 ml to 2 litres directly to sunlight for minimum of six hours to kill the germs,” Mukhopadhyay said.

“The poverty-stricken mass, who could seldom afford costly gadgets, could at least get some relief from stomach-related ailments and enjoy good health,” she said.

The research centre of the varsity intended to bring in more regions within the fold of safe drinking water zones, she added.

IANS 2012-12-23 00:04:10