India develops eco-friendly sea water tech

India has developed an eco-friendly technology to treat sea water brought in by cargo ships into its domain, bringing along with it alien organisms and may be even radioactive elements that harm the marine ecosystem or can have even bigger consequences, reports Daily News and Analysis.

According to The Hindu, in the new development that promises to be of far-reaching significance, the scientists have got a patent from the US Patent Office for a treatment technology for the ballast water that is not only highly effective, but is also all more eco-friendly as it does not use any chemicals.

AC Anil, scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), who developed the technology in collaboration with his colleagues at the Pune-based National Chemical Laboratory and University of Bombay's Institute of Chemical Technology, says the technology is based on the principle of 'hydrodynamic cavitation.'

News One says the Ballast Water Treatment technology is supported by the ministry of shipping.

'The facility to use the technology has been implemented in four ports in India - two in Mumbai and one each in Vishakapatnam and Goa. So ships coming in into these ports can be selectively quarantined. By 2016, all the 12 major ports in the country will be covered,' Anil adds.

'The system can kill organisms without adding more chemicals or destroying the ships, so it eco-friendly and is of low cost,' he notes.

Underlining the significance of the Rs 15 crore project in the light of the recent threat of radioactive waste being brought from Japan after the 11 March nuclear disaster, minister of state for earth sciences and science and technology Ashwani Kumar says: “We understand the significance of the project particularly in the light of recent development and concerns of radioactive material being brought in by the ships sailing into our waters.”