“The Better India” news outlet reported Gadgil’s lab technological innovation which has been providing drinking water to rural communities in West Bengal at just 60 paise (~ 1 U.S. cent) per liter. India is one of the countries in South Asia severely affected by naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater used for drinking. Chronic exposure to arsenic has been linked to skin lesions, various types of internal cancers and low IQ in children. The problem is widespread in multiple states in India, especially along the Indo-Gangetic plain. Six states are considered arsenic affected by the Central Ground Water Board – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh.
The technology is called Electrochemical Arsenic Remediation (ECAR) and holds promise for its deployment across the country because of its modular and cost-effective nature.