SPONSORERS OF THE WORKSHOP:
1.    The Department of Science & Technology, Government of    India, New Delhi.
2.    Indian Control of Medical Research, New Delhi.
3.    Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
4.    University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
5.    Council of Science & Technology, U. P.
National Workshop On Cost Effective Remedies In Water Purification Technology.
Held at Lucknow June 5-7, 1995.
                             Sponsored by:
*   United Nations Children's Fund, Field office Lucknow
*   Council of Science & Technology, U. P. Lucknow
*   Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India, NewDelhi
*   Society for the Advancement of Environmental Sciences,India
THEME
                Drinking water is the bare minimum human 
requirement and the potability is the index of the national development. The availability of this natural resource and the 
guest to save it from manmade or natural degradation should constitute a national concern. In developing countries, 90% of human ailments are caused due to water contamination therefore, the situation becomes more alarming and deserves greater attention. Follies of past are surfacing now and actions of today will reflect tomorrow. Widespread, contamination of water resources are now taking heavy human toll. of all the sections, children constitute the most vulnerable class of the society due to their primitive/ ill-defined immune system for whom water contamination puts a question mark on their survival !Ironically,
an estimated 235 out of 1000 children die before attaining the 
age of 5 years in this country. What would be the horizon of a national perspective, where so many citizens are not allowed to develop, grow and prosper due to variety of reasons but most important being the water contamination. Holy ganges, the 
symbol of India's culture and gaiety has now been reduced to a dumping ground for various toxic substances, despite the Ganga Action Plan. The contamination at any source may result into surfacing of symptoms else where! The widespread 
contamination of underground water by lethal concentration of Arsenic in Bay of Bangal may be the outcome of severe contamination of Holy Ganges else where. Likewise, the severe contamination of riven Gomti at Lucknow may reflect its dimensions at Jaunpur and Sultanpur. The frequent outbreak of Jaundice & other gusto problems clubbed with remarkable increase in the incidences of renal failures and cancer etc. at Lucknow and some other parts of the country may have strong correlation with water contamination. A large number of areas have been identified as prone to flourish and other dreaded diseases causing immense damage to human health. The worst sufferers of water contamination are again those who are economically weak and socially backward as they cannot afford to have expensive systems for the decontamination of water & make it potable. Although, it is not essential that after treatment water becomes potable!
            The genesis of this National workshop stems from the foregoing facts associated with the deteriorating quality of 
drinking water at regional & national level to deliberate the issues thread bare and discuss the cost effectiveness of the available technologies with a view to explore remedies. 

           Sri Brijendra Sahai, the Chief Secretary of U. P. was the Chief Guest & delivered the key note address on this signification day at Hotel Clark's Avadh. His address is incorporated as such in the subsequent pages of this report. On behalf of the UNICEF the Co-sponsored of this National workshop, Ms. Sheba Husain, the State Chief Representative enlightened the August gathering about the imperatives of environment, safe drinking water, sanitation anc child health as the main developmental programs being pursued by UNICEF in the state & dwelt at length the relevancy of such activities to reduce the infant and child mortality in the state which has been increasing ever since due to economic & social factors.
          She also pointed out that today, the 50th Anniversary of United Nations is celebrated world over and it is heartening that this workshop is aiming to harp on the agenda 21 of the Rio Summit of UNCTED, which stipulate the renewed emphasis on human being to live in harmony with nature. She also dwelt at length the steps being pursued by UNICEF to foster greater linkages between child health, environment and sanitation and the effective role being played by NGO's in the sincere implementation of the programs.
          In this Presidential Address, Shri Mandhata Singh, Former Member of Parliament from Lucknow and a noted academician associated with Secondary Teachers Association & Trade Unions, highlighted the relevancy of such workshop in the context of increasing human ailments at Lucknow and attributed that 
water contamination is the root cause. He also reminded the August gathering the fateful night of December 29th of 1986, when millions of fishes were found dead floating over a stretch of 5 to 6 km. in river Gomti at Lucknow. He further added that the brave scientist, who came it bold to expose the vested interests had to suffer since then first by loosing his position in the local CSIR (ITRC) lab and now by earning the wrath of a 
multinational company to face a suit for damage for Rs. 2 crore for his boldness to reveal the higher concentration of toxic 
Nickel, in the popular Indian chocolates. He repeatedly warned the vested interests to desist from polluting the river Gomti and allowing it to be a dumping ground for toxic and hazardous substances. It was also pointed out that as a social activist, he
has, in the past, protected Dr. Saxena's environmental endeavor for human welfare and shall do so in future as well, should the need arise by taking the matter for judicial intervention!
         The workshop which witnessed a large galaxy of eminent Scientist, Academicians, Clinicians & Social activists were 
flanked by the chair for making it convenient to ensure their attendance from different part of the country at such a short
notice and also contributing enormously through their latest research findings on the subject. As such, it was gratifying to note that the active participants dwelt at all the relevant themes of the proposed workshop and successfully adhered to the completion of the envisaged program, as detailed in the subsequent paragraphs.
Address delivered by 
Shri Brijendra Sahai, I. A. S.
Chief Secretary, Govt. of U. P.,
Lucknow ( India )
on Monday, the 5th June, 1995.
Dr. Saxena, Madam Sehba Husain, Hon'ble Shri. Mandhata Singh ji, Mr. Verma, Ladies & Gentlemen.
          It is a a great privilege for me to be with the galaxyof distinguished scientists of this National workshop on Drinking water health hazards: Imperatives of cost-effective technologies and mass awareness. This morning as all of you are aware that water is essential for much survival. The total amount of water in the world is about 1400 million cubic Km. or 10¹⁸ tonnes. More than 97% of this is sea water; of the rest 22% is ground water 
and 77% is ice locked away in the glaciers and the polar ice cap. This leaves less than 1% of the supply of fresh water to take part in the hydrological cycle; about half of this is found in rivers, 
lakes, and swamps. Fortunately, we could not have with us the pride of India, Dr. Qasim, Member, Planning Commission who was the leader of the first Indian Expedition to Antarctica, which symbolized the quest of humanity to search potable water along with other mineral resources. I am personaly known to him & 
was keen to listen his impressive lecture but due to some unavoidable circumstances he could not make it possible to be with us.
       Any way much of the fresh water is highly polluted. In India 90% of the water available is from rivers, all of which are considerably polluted. The water of river Yamuna near Delhi is unsuitable even for irrigation. Even the Ganga which is regarded
to be sacred and holy is severly polluted despite the Ganga 
Action Plan. The water of river Gomti is no exception to it.
       The severe exposure of water pollution has many harmful effects of human health. The toxins cause various water borne diseases like Diarrohea, Dysentry, Amoebiasis, Hepatitis and Jaundice which are fatal to human being. In developed industrial countries several children die of water borne diseases.The toxins even find their way in the neonates and new born babies 
indirectly through lactating mothers causing immense harm to them.
        The genesis of the proposed workshop stems from the fact that a vast Indian population residing in rural areas is dependent on the supply of untreated water which is the root cause of their ailments as reports have confirmed that 90% of human ailments in rural areas may be accounted due to polluted water supply. The reason being that 80% of Indian population if residing in rural areas deprived of organized system of collecting, treating and supply of drinking water. In rural areas main sources of drinking water are dug wells, hand pumps and step wells. In some rural areas water ponds, lakes or rivers are used for domestic 
purpose.
        The run off pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals and their subsequent leaching into the soil are the few well known sources of contamination of water . Lack of sanitational facilities and absence of drainage system frequently leads to the contamination of village water. This situation is equally disturbing in urban areas.
         Sources which are hardly covered and are seldomly 
spared of being utilized as a dumping source of rural refuge. The effluents discharged from the industries and the decay of animal bodies add miseries to the problem of contamination in water sources. It is now well established that 90% of the rural diseases may by attributed to the polluted water. An increasing awareness among the rural population is being felt but the poor fellows feel helpless in combating this problem at unit and community level. The biggest agony of the hour is that very little has been accomplished in this important field of rural development.
     Unlike cities where a fairly large population is using water filters, aquaguards; the rural population is thriving on the contaminated water supply due to lack of financial resources and other pressing essentialities of life. Therefore, it is vital that with increased emphasis on augmenting the source of drinking water, efforts should also be made simultaneously for ensuring its 
quality. In rural context the availablity of material used in the purification and its acceptability as environmentally safe, has to
be ensured. The higher cost of chemicals and the heavy investment, in setting-up conventional water treatment plants at village level is not only a treatment plants at village level is not 
only a theoretical exercise but practically impossible for several reasons. However, the immedicate need of providing potable drinking water to the villagers can not be undermined.
          It is gratifying to note that a reasonable awareness about the health hazards associated with drinking water contamination has been created but the same still remains confined to the municipal boundaries of the urban areas as reflected by renewed focus by every kitchen on preferential use of water filters.
          This situation while emphasizes the necessity of potability
of water, the system responsible for ensuring the safe drinking water will have to be geared up to face the challenges of increasing incidence of water contamination. The states owe the responsibility to share the public concerns but the resource constraints have to be considered for the effective delivery of the system. As such, we have to realize the imperatives of cost-effective technologies in the purification of drinking water in
a manner that this could be easily affordable & universally acceptable to all sections of the society. We can not forget that 80% of the population is rural based & as such constitute the most vulnerable group of the society to the hazards posed by drinking water contamination. We have also to bear in mind that U. P. alone has 4 crore 28 lakh persons living below the poverty line, the figure at national level is quite alarming, therefore, if any system is attempted to be evolved, it should preferentially provide succour to this class of the society and would accomplish the greatest mission of the century. The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking water mission is a right step in this direction. However, no mission could become successful unless supported by public 
& thus, the role of NGO's become very important and crucial in the changed circumstances. They have to be considered as alternate sources of delivery system. I am happy that the work 
out put of ERL-a  leading NGO of the state has earned global recognition & is working tirelessly for the plight of the society through Science & Technology. Their expertise have to be 
utilized for the welfare of the state.
          I am happy that the organizers have chosen the most relevant theme to deliberate a public issue through Science & Technological inputs with the active support of UNICEF, which may prove to be of immense help in finding ways & means in tackling the impending problems of drinking water health hazards.
         I am confident that the delegates assembled over here form different part of the country would deliberate the issue thread 
bare & shall come out with dynamic sets of recommendations for the efficacious remedies.
         I wish all the success & would assure that the state would not leg behind in proving all kind of assistance for such a noble endeavour.
A seminar cum debate was organized in collboration with the Regional Science Centre, Lucknow, to commernorate the third death anniversary of  Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The theme of the 
seminar was- "ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST "- an impressive galaxy of distinguished scientists of Lucknow were present to put forth 
their thoughts & reactions to the deliberations. In his welcome address  Dr. M. C. Saxena, the convenor of the programme, elaborated the relevance of the theme in the national and international perspective & shed light on the possible health hazards associated with radiations. The distinguished speakers explained the devastating effects of a "NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST"and said that should it occur it would be "DOOMS DAY". They appealed to condemn and isolate the unconcerned traitors of humanity, advocating nuclear deterrence and made a humble appeal to one and all present to live in harmony with one another and with nature for the sustainance & prosperity of this planet & its creatures.
 A group of budding environmentalists of Spring Dale College, trained under the RGELD, impressed the audience by their knowledge and understanding of the sensitive issue of "NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST" It was their first public performance. At the end of the seminar the   discussions were opened to the house and a lively session followed aspects related to the theme:
(i) The imperatives of developing nuclear power.
(ii)  Dangers associated with nuclear energy harnessing. 
(iii)  Irreversible changes that may perpetuate in the environment due to nuclear fission.
(iv) The question of survival of humanity in the background of nuclear arms race.
(v)  Environmental consequences of nuclear energy.
(vi)  The irreparable human health hazards associated with 
nuclear programme.
(vii)  The universal law of nature and nuclear power.
The seminar cum debate came to an end with Mr. A. N. Dey, of Regional Science Centre, the Programme Coordinator, 
conveying a vote of thanks to the organizers for the arrangements and the audience for their active participation.
A seminar was organized by the society to mark the occasion of World Environment Day (5^th June 1987). The seminar on "River Pollution & Human Helth" was inaugurated by Hon'ble Shri Lok Pati Tripathi, the State Minister Health. He emphasized the need for pollution abatement in major rivers, espacially the Gomti. The seminar was well attended and the review on the deliberations of the day were published/reflected in the popular media. Major efforts are being made to cleanse the river Yamuna- the level of pollution has reached alarming proportions. A public awareness campaign was undertaken at Mathura to enlighten the public on the hazards of pollution in the river. The sources of pollution in the river were identified and remedial measures for its abatement were deliberated at the public seminar held at Holigate, Mathura. Academicians, public & trade representatives participated in the deliberations. The uncontrolled population growth, urbanisation & industrialisation can devastate the environment with known and unknown  poisons. The path of industrialisation & the consequent development taken by the contry has, no doubt, raised the standards of living but have also giving rise to serious environmental problems, The vulnerability of the masses, in developing countries, to the health hazards, is greater than in developed countries. The old industrial establishment do not have ETPs, primarily due to the expenses involved. The untreated effluents are discharged in the environment which pose a serious threat to human, aquatic & other live forms. Calamities, as a consequence of the environmental degradation, have been occuring in the different part of the country and the masses have become more aware of the ecological implications of the deteriorating environment. 
"Environmental Conservation" os our tribute to the generations to come. In the present circumstrances the task seems to be monumental but is not impossible. Waste management strategies need to be adopted- to discuss the implications, a National Workshop on "Industrial & Sewage Effluent : Hazards & Remedies", was organized by the society on the 22^nd of 
February 1988 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The workshop was inaugurated by Hon'ble Shri Z.R. Ansari, Union Minister of State for Environment & Forest. The inaugural session was presided over by the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture, Shri Yogendra Makwana & was attended by noted illuminist 
Shri T.N. Seshan, Secy., Min. of Environment, scientists, engineers, administrators, industry & water works 
representatives, from all over the country, especially the south, attended the workshop and discussed the issues, thread bare, during the consequetive three days. The recommendations on the common & pressing issues were submitted to the government for implemention.

• The imperatives of developing nuclear power.
• Dangers associated with nuclear energy harnessing.
• Irreversible changes that may perpetuate in the environment due to nuclear fission.
• The question of survival of humanity in the background of nuclear arms race.
• Environmental consequences of the nuclear energy.
• The irreparable human health hazards associated with nuclear programme.
• The universal law of nature and nuclear power.