Can a highly polluted lake such as Hussainsagar be restored to its pristine glory within 15 days? And that too at a fraction of what the government has been spending to cleanse the water body?
Yes, says C.Venkateshwar, OU botany professor, claiming to have developed appropriate technologies for the purpose. Demonstrating his technology called ‘Venkateshwara Technology' (VT) on Thursday, he said the putrid water of the lake could be made potable in just 15 days and at a small portion of the amount being spent in the cleaning of the lake.
Speedy process
“The sewage treatment plants (STP) treat only bio-waste in the sewage water, while heavy metals along with algae, fungi and bacteria, are left untouched rendering it unfit for consumption. The VT process removes all these pollutants and makes it completely safe for human consumption,” Dr. Venkateshwar says. While a STP takes 24 hours to remove bio-waste from water, VT makes the same amount of water potable in four hours, he says, describing the technology as a unique chemical process that converts pollutants into harmless sludge. “This sludge can in turn be used for producing bio-gas, useful chemical compounds and bio-fertiliser.”
Safe chemicals
Chemicals used in the process were completely safe, edible and eco-friendly. Water thus produced meets WHO standards for potable water and has been certified by two laboratories, according to him. The water was used to feed rabbits and raise fish successfully.
For Hussainsagar, he maintains that through the ‘Venkateshwara Ladder Technology' the required amount of chemicals can be delivered at various depths. “I can fit a ship with required equipment and convert the whole lake into a fresh water tank,” he claimed.
Chemicals needed for the process would cost about Rs. 40 crore, while the ship cost works out to another Rs. 10 crore. Dr.Venkateshwar said he made a proposal to try it out in smaller lakes such as Saroornagar and Safilguda, but there was no response from the authorities concerned.
