The Centre today gave its approval to the proposal for establishing the International Centre for Drinking Water Quality in Kolkata.
The basic aim of the Centre is to work in the area of identification, mitigation and management with focus on research and development on drinking water quality related problems in India (both urban and rural) with a focus on, among other contaminants, arsenic and fluoride.
It will also provide policy advice on request to the central and state governments as also to other countries on demand on water quality issues, said a release issued after the Union Cabinet meeting.
The Centre will be registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with the requisite manpower, building and support infrastructure.
It will benefit the entire population of the country through provision of safe and quality drinking water, the release said.
"All states/districts in the country will be covered as bacteriological contamination is more or less evenly spread and focus will also be made on drinking water quality affected habitations in the states/districts," it said.
The total cost of the project will be Rs 176.64 crore.
The entire expenditure will be met out of the funds provided to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the centrally-sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme.
The Centre is to be established on 8.72 acres of land at Joka on Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, earmarked for the purpose by West Bengal Government.
