Today, numerous states in India including Maharashtra are facing water crisis. For a long time they have been trying to find solution to this problem. Success is achieved by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC. They have been successful in discovering a method by which they can make sea water drinkable. This method is cheaper than all the previously discovered methods.
In Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, researchers developed a water desalination plant. The scientists of BARC took the help of nuclear energy to desalinate the water. The scientists fed waste steam into the nuclear reactor that removed salt from the water and made it fit for drinking purpose. Reports show that there is no difference in taste between fresh water and desalinated water. This water is being used for drinking and other purpose by the people of Kudankulam plant. K N Vyas director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre said that earlier too BARC scientists had found different solutions to fight the problem of water shortage. Along with thi,s such water treatment plants have been installed in other states as well including Punjab, West Bengal and Rajasthan. He also said that besides this BARC has developed several membranes, by which, at a very small cost, groundwater contaminated by uranium or arsenic can be purified and made fit for drinking.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site himself for evaluating. In order to boost the confidence of the scientist he congratulated them. While visiting, he also pedalled a bicycle attached to water purifier which turns the dirty contaminated water into potable water. He found that pedaling the bicycle produces energy which is needed for the purifier to function smoothly. Also researchers at the BARC have also developed several low-cost thin membranes for household use to purify water.
