Sea Water to be Converted into Fresh Drinking Water – Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar, 10 August (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday inaugurated a Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Desalination Water Supply Project at Matikhal in Chhatrapur, Ganjam district, during his two-day visit to the region. The initiative, set up within the premises of IREL (India) Limited, aims to convert seawater into potable fresh water to address the persistent drinking water challenges in the coastal district.

Pradhan inspected the desalination unit, tasted the purified water, and lauded the project as a significant milestone in local water conservation efforts. Speaking to the media, he noted that despite Ganjam’s proximity to the sea, high salinity in groundwater and limited freshwater resources have made clean drinking water a long-standing challenge for residents.

“Access to clean drinking water is a basic necessity. This initiative will provide a reliable source of potable water to the local community and help resolve the water scarcity that has plagued the region for years,” Pradhan said, thanking IREL for its contribution towards building a healthier society and promoting sustainable development.

Drawing parallels with Israel’s large-scale desalination practices, Pradhan announced that in the first phase, residents of Matikhal and Aryapalli will benefit from the project, with water available at a cost of just 11 paise per litre. He highlighted that Odisha’s 450-kilometre-long coastline faces recurring freshwater shortages, and this CSR initiative by IREL to supply desalinated water to nearby villages is a commendable step.

“This may be the first time in the state that seawater is being converted into fresh water and supplied directly to the people,” Pradhan remarked.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda