IIT-Kharagpur to build Re-Water Research Center to replenish water resources
IIT Kharagpur is going to set up a Re-Water Research Center, seed-funded by two alumni members to replenish and rejuvenate water resources, the institute said today. The move is to tackle the challenge of resolving two burning issues faced by urban India, sewage disposal and access to clean potable water, the IIT said on the 68th Foundation Day of the premier institution. Here's more.
Scarcity of drinking water will only worsen in future: Alumni
"The scarcity of water for drinking and domestic use is becoming acute and will only worsen in the coming years. On the other hand, urban areas are witnessing massive sewage problems," one of the alumni members, Aneesh Reddy, said.
IIT Kharagpur setting up pilot plant in the hostel
The "Aditya Choubey Center for Re-Water Research" would be networking with government bodies to meet the water challenge in various cities, Reddy said. IIT-K is setting up an on-campus plant which will convert 1.35 million liters of sewage water from the hostels to 1.2 million liters of potable water, on a daily basis. The pilot plant is expected to be ready by March 2019.
Professor heading the project gives more details about the plant
"We will conduct quality assurance tests demonstrating the suitability of the technology for the treatment of sewage and the suitability of the treated water for consumption," Prof MM Ghangrekar, Department of Civil Engineering, who will be heading this project, said. The researchers would also be developing an operationally viable technology so that the plant can be profitably commercialized.
Planning to engage international water experts: IIT Kharagpur Director
Director of IIT KGP, Prof PP Chakrabarti said that similar models of water sustainability have been adopted in foreign countries. "We are looking forward to participatory models in villages to implement this technology. We would also engage international water experts and professionals from the industry as researchers and advisers in this center. (Alumni) Aneesh and Anant will be advisers as well," Chakrabarti said.
