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Indian Scientists Go Nuclear to Provide Pure Water to Thirsty Sub-Continent

© Flickr / Javier MoralesWater
Water - Sputnik International
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India may soon be able to achieve one of its most challenging development goals yet - providing safe, potable drinking water to a population of over 1.2 billion.

Nuclear power plants (Pressurized Water Reactors) under construction at Kudankulm, India. (File) - Sputnik International
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NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Indian nuclear scientists have come up with a technology that will convert sea water or water polluted with industrial waste into potable water at a startling cost of USD 0.0015 (0.10 INR) per liter in no time.

Scientists at the Madras Atomic Power Station are currently experimenting with the thermal desalination processes which involve the use of nuclear low pressure steam. The plant is the largest operating hybrid nuclear desalination plant in the world. 

Replying to a question in Parliament, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office, says, "A seawater desalination plant set up as part of the Nuclear Desalination Demonstration Project at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu produces 4.5 million liters of water per day using a thermal desalination process and 1.8 million liters of water per day using membrane-based technology using electrical energy."

This technology will not only solve the country's periodic droughts, which limit the availability of drinking water in most parts of the country, but also fulfill water requirements for high-end industrial uses.

WaterAid said in a recent report that India has the dubious distinction of having more people than anyone else in the world…who lack safe water. These number 75.8 million, or at least 5% of the country's population of 1.28 billion. Annually, 140,000 children die due to diarrhea caused by the consumption of contaminated water.

The affected groups aren't limited to rural areas; in many Indian cities, the poor cannot afford packaged water or water purifiers. 

Meanwhile, due to the lack of clean water, many industries have reportedly deferred their decision to set up plants in India.

FICCI, an Industry body in India, said in a report, "Water demand for the industrial sector is on the rise, and will account for 8.5 and 10.1 per cent of the total freshwater abstraction in 2025 and 2050, respectively."

Pharmaceuticals, power and the food processing industry are the most affected, due to poor quality water. In states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, industries are obtaining water at a cost so high that it is affecting their profit margin considerably. 

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