Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 12 (HBTV): Women of a self-help group in Pacheda village, Naya Raipur, are becoming self-reliant through employment at a water treatment plant established with the support of the Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran (NRDA) and the Chhattisgarh government.

According to District Panchayat Abhanpur Area Coordinator Hemant Bhardwaj, the Jharia Water Treatment Plant in the NRDA Campus at Pacheda village is operated by seven women of the Sharda Self-Help Group.

‘Jharia Water Treatment Plant is established in the NRDA Campus. This is the NRDA Campus in Pacheda village. The Water Treatment Plant is operated by the seven women of the Sharda Self-Help Group of Pacheda village,’ Bhardwaj said.

Explaining the filtration process, he noted, ‘We bring dam water to the treatment plant, which is first stored in two 10,000-litre tanks. From there, the water passes through a seven-stage filtration process, including a sand filter, activated carbon filter, membrane filter, and micron filter. After filtration, we enhance the water using a pH booster to maintain a pH level between 7.5 and 8.5. It is then filtered again using a micron filter and a UV filter. Finally, the purified alkaline water is bottled through a stainless steel (SS) tank.’

Highlighting the uniqueness of the alkaline water, Bhardwaj added, ‘This water is different from the mineral water in the market. It is in a glass bottle. We supply it in 500 ml bottles and sell it to nearby institutions. From April 1 till now, we have sold around 50,000 water bottles.’

Raipur Collector Gaurav Singh stated that the alkaline water provided by the Jharia Water Treatment Plant is available at a lower cost than market rates. ‘The speciality of the Jharia Plant is that alkaline water is available in the market at a high rate, but we provide it at a low rate. Alkaline water is good for people's health. Its production has been set up, and the packaging of glass bottles has been arranged to reduce plastic. By connecting women's groups, their income will increase, and we have kept its location such that it covers the Ministry Police Headquarters of Naya Raipur and Raipur. In the coming time, we will try to get more and more people connected to it,’ he said.

Self-help group member Purnima Kurre elaborated on the purification process: ‘When we bring the dam water to the treatment plant, there is a 10,000-litre tank. Our water comes in it. After this, there is our filter plant. Water comes there. Water is filtered in seven stages. We boost water with sand filters, active carbon filters, membrane filters, and micron filters. We also boost water with pH boosters.’

She also emphasised the health benefits of alkaline water and expressed gratitude towards Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. ‘This water is very beneficial. This water is very beneficial for stomach-related problems. Earlier, we used to be unemployed, and our financial condition was not good. I thank CM Vishnu Deo Sai for setting up this water plant and helping women to progress,’ she said.

(ANI)