Kolkata: Sulabh International on Tuesday inaugurated a water treatment plant to provide low-cost drinking water in arsenic-hit
Bengal villages.
Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International unveiled the water treatment plant at Panchberia, West Midnapore with Prof K J Nath,
Chairman Arsenic Task Force, former director of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIH&PH) and Advisor, Sulabh International Social Service Organization (SISSO) under 'Sulabh Drinking Water'project to provide villagers arsenic-free safe drinking water.
The basic objective of the project is to provide arsenic free safe drinking water of WHO standard at cheap rates to the rural population of about nearly 3,000 people in Panchberia and nearby villages, Daspur block,
West Midnapore.
The new water treatment plant has a capacity to produce 10,000 bottles of varying capacity (600 ml to 20 litre) with a sophisticated laboratory and a completely automated bottling plant. The produced water is being sold to the villagers at less than
Re 1/ per litre.
The villagers along with women from the local Self-Help Group are going to operate this plant with supervision and required training provided by SISSO.
According to WHO, 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.
Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, SISSO said: "I have been totally surprised after visiting the plant! It is amazing to see that village level workers and women could operate and manage such a sophisticated plant producing safe water of WHO standard at minimum cost. Sulabh would be happy to provide all support and technical assistance.
The project is an excellent example of empowerment of rural community, particularly women at the
village level".