Rishikesh: Being a pioneer in spearheading green initiatives under the visionary leadership of it’s President HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh saw the inauguration of a 50 KLD Decentralised Portable Magnised Wastewater Treatment Plant by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Trivendra Singh Rawatji, Hon’ble Minister of Urban Development of Uttarakhand Shri Madan Kaushikji, Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Welfare of Uttarakhand Smt. Rekha Arya ji, Shri Tirath Singh Rawatji and other members of the Bharatiya Janata Party assembled at the Ashram for a two day high level State Working Committee Meet.

This is the first of its kind treatment system using a four part treatment technology to treat the Ashram’s wastewater into potable water which would be reused for irrigation, gardening, laundry and other domestic daily usage of the Ashram, saving gallons of water and set a new precedent for others to follow suit. The system is installed jointly by the Pi-Lo Pani Seva Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, Ganga Action Parivar and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance.

The four part treatment approach first passes through the Anoxic Chamber for denitrification of the effluent, then it passes through a biological system cum PMTR chamber which provides bacteria that helps to decompose all organic material present in the wastewater and a membrane based process with a suspended growth bio-reactor with high yield membrane made of poly vinyl fluoride (PVDF) of porosity 0.02 micron. Finally the effluent passes through Dual Media Filter which removes turbidity and suspended solid as low as 10-20 microns. The last part of the process is UV water purification which removes harmful pathogens and bacteria from the water and a sludge de-watering unit that dehydrates the solid byproduct, reducing the weight and volume of the sludge and therefore saves cost and facilitates proper disposal of the sludge.

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji set the context by sharing, “At the current rate of water consumption in India, we will only have half the water we require by the year 2030 and the world will only have half the water it needs by the year 2040. The number of refugees in the world will also continue to increase due to this rising water crisis. Therefore, it is crucial and paramount that we MUST work to be the solution to the pollution, doing whatever we can with the time, talent, technology and tenacity that we have to protect and preserve our sacred water bodies and river systems. I am glad that Parmarth Niketan can set an example that others can emulate to be the change we want to see.”

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Trivendra Singh Rawatji shared, “I am glad to see the positive example being set by Pujya Swamiji and Parmarth Niketan. This is a great initiative, especially apt ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. This technology uses less space and is cost effective, offering a viable solution to institutions, businesses and others to treat and reuse wastewater effectively. This is a boon for not only the state but for a Clean Ganga.”

Shri Jatin Ahlawatji, Co-Founder of Pilo Pani Seva Foundation shared, “This is the first such decentralized system in the nation and in any ashram to treat wastewater to potable drinking water standards and I illustrated that by drinking it. We all need to take this intiative and be the change that we wish to see in the world and I am glad to see the partnership of Parmarth, Pilo and GIWA coming together to set that example.”