Lok Sabha Question No. 1639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: NRDC Agreement for Test Kit for Drinking Water
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

## OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016)

## NRDC AGREEMENT FOR TEST KIT FOR DRINKING WATER

1639\_ SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the National Research Development Council (NRDC) has entered into an agreement for commercialisation of test kit for microbiological quality of drinking water;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the benefits likely to accrue therefrom;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
- (c) whether it is in compliance with WHO standards; and

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) Yes Madam, NRDC has entered into agreements with 20 companies for commercialization of the process for manufacture of (Test Kit for Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water" .
- It is basically a kit used to test suitability of water for drinking: The kit is used for detection of HzS (Hydrogen Sulfide) producing organisms in drinking water, which are present along with Coliforms: These pollutants in the water supply are responsible for causing waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea and jaundice: The conventional method of testing the microbiological quality of water requires the services of a qualified microbiologist; laboratory facilities and takes 72 hours to know the result: This test kit does not need any laboratory facility and thus, it is an inexpensive, reliable and convenient method of testing potability of drinking water.
- (b) The process for manufacture of Test Kit for Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water was developed by Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE); Gwalior and the technology was assigned to the Corporation in 1987-88 for commercialization. The Corporation has licensed the process to 20 licensees (list of parties is enclosed as Annexure I)
- (c) WHO has approved this process for testing the microbiological quality of drinking water.
- (d) The process for testing the microbiological quality of drinking water conforms to the WHO document on (Evaluating household water treatment options: healthbased targets and microbiological performance specifications".

*****

## Annexure

## List of NRDC Licensees for Test Kit of Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water developed

| No:   | LICENSEE                                     | CITYISTATE                  |   Year Of Aggreement |
|-------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------|
|       | A.P.Industrial Components Ltd                | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh   |                 1988 |
| 2     | Ion Exchange (India) Ltd                     | Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh  |                 1988 |
| 3     | Watek   (India)                              | Gwalior_Madhya Pradesh      |                 1992 |
| 4     | Premier Health Care products                 | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh   |                 1996 |
| 5     | Techno AD System Inc-,                       | Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh     |                 1998 |
| 6     | HiMedia Laboratories Ltd                     | Mumbai, Maharashtra         |                 1999 |
| 7     | Water Health Laboratories                    | Roorkee; Uttar Pradesh      |                 1999 |
| 8     | LTEK Systems                                 | Nagpur, Maharashtra         |                 2000 |
|       | Shrinath Chemicals                           | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh      |                 2000 |
| 10    | Water Tech Engineers,                        | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh   |                 2002 |
| 11    | H.S: Industries                              | Ranga Reddy, Andhra Pradesh |                 2004 |
| 12    | A.P. Water Testing Equipment Co.             | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh   |                 2005 |
| 13    | Abhijit Enterprises                          | Pune, Maharashtra           |                 2006 |
| 14    | Technology and Action for Rural Advancement, | New Delhi, Delhi            |                 2007 |
| 15    | Plasti Surge Industries Ltd                  | Amravati, Maharashtra       |                 2007 |
| 16    | Shrinathji Kayakalp Remedies Pvt: Ltd:       | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh      |                 2007 |
| 17    | S.B. Equipments,                             | New Delhi, Delhi            |                 2008 |
| 18    | Galaxy Analytical & Research Services,       | Indore, Madhya Pradesh      |                 2008 |
| 19    | Vishal Pharmacuticals Laboratories           | Indore, Madhya Pradesh      |                 2012 |
| 20    | Ramashree Chemicals Pvt: Ltd:                | Bhopal; Madhya Pradesh      |                 2016 |