Water is not just scarce in Rajasthan, it is unclean too. According to a report published by Government of India earlier this year, this western state of India has the highest number of habitations where ground water contains fluoride. This means 45 lakh people are affected.
Fluoride is one of the poisonous chemicals found in water in Rajasthan, it contains Arsenic and Lead too.
A University of Adelaide’s researcher has a device that can clean water in Rajasthan. And he is burning midnight oil to find a way to make his device available to the people of Rajasthan.
Dr. Cristian Birzer, senior lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering, explains, “We have a water treatment system that already treats the pathogens and we know how to treat for some heavy metals. The idea is to now go to Rajasthan, test the water quality; tailor a design for the people of Rajasthan, set up a factory and then distribute water treatment system.”
Rajasthan is the sister state of South Australia. And when the talks of collaborations were going on, it occurred to Dr. Birzer that his technology can be very useful for the people of Rajasthan where according to a report by India's Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry, around 40 lakh people are affected by fluorosis, the highest in the country.
Source: Supplied
“We chose Rajasthan because we are aware that water is heavily contaminated there. 1.5 million People die every year because of contaminated water. We thought we could help the people of Rajasthan.”
Dr. Birzer’s project needs funding as it is not an industry based project. He and his team are running a crowdfunding campaign to get the funds.
“This is an all-or-nothing project. We can do it only if we have enough money. So we are hoping that generous people of Australia could help us,” says Dr. Georgina Drew who has been to Rajasthan and is working with Dr. Birzer in this project.
Source: Supplied
Dr. Drew says that this project is not just about transfer of technology.
“Our idea is to develop the technology according to the needs of the affected people. It would yield maximum benefits.”
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