The Hindu 27.09.2009
Scientific method to supply safe drinking water to be evolved
Special Correspondent
| At a State-level meet to be held in Chennai on September 30 |
MADURAI: A State-level meet on the problem of drinking water contamination will be held in Chennai on September 30 under the auspices of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, by inviting scientists/ water managers.
During the one-day ‘analytical exercise,’ the main sources of water contamination in both urban and rural areas will be identified and a scientific roadmap for supplying safe, pure and palatable drinking water to people evolved, according to S. Vincent, Member-Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology.
He told The Hindu here on Saturday that scientists and water experts from the DST would attend the meeting and sensitise authorities to the problems of contamination.
Officials from the State, including the Public Works Department, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, besides the Surface and Ground Water Data Resource Centre would be among those who would participate in the meeting, he said.
“A national-level project has been unveiled to prevent contamination of water bodies. As part of that initiative, the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology is holding a meeting,” Dr. Vincent said. The outcome will be submitted as a report at a similar national level-meeting being organised by the DST in New Delhi on October 6 and 7. As per instructions, five locations in Tamil Nadu would be identified soon to study the problems of quantity, quality and contamination of water resources. Places with a population of 10,000 to one lakh will receive special attention. The DST is deputing its scientists/officials to interact with State Governments on this issue.
“The objective is to evolve a common strategy for the prevention of water contamination so that people can get pure drinking water in future,” Dr. Vincent said.
