Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that India’s nuclear programme has achieved a historic vindication of Dr. Homi Bhabha’s pledge and declaration to the world that India’s Nuclear Programme is dedicated to peaceful purposes. He added that this commitment has found its strongest realisation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India’s nuclear capabilities are now delivering transformative gains in healthcare, agriculture, drinking water purification and other citizen-centric domains.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that when the country’s nuclear journey began, doubts were raised globally about India’s intentions. “Today, the success of peaceful applications, whether in cancer care through Tata Memorial Centre’s expanding network, or in community-level water purification systems, affirm India’s responsible and welfare-oriented nuclear vision,” he noted. The Minister highlighted that 11 Tata Memorial cancer hospitals have been established, 9 of which are already functional, and a national oncology grid now connects over 300 hospitals with advanced diagnostic and treatment support.
The Minister further stated that the Modi Government has opened the nuclear sector to private participation for the first time through the PPP model, enabling nearly 40 private partners to join atomic energy water purification initiatives. He said, this unprecedented reform underscores the Government’s commitment to leverage nuclear science for “a healthier, safer, and more empowered India.”
During the Question Hour in the Winter Session of Parliament, Malvika Devi, MP from Kalahandi, Odisha, sought clarification on the health outcomes in Nuapada district of Odisha, where contaminated water has caused significant kidney-related and other health issues. She asked about the impact of installing 500 reverse osmosis (RO)-based water purification systems in the affected areas and whether there has been a reduction in such cases.
Responding to the query, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the House that Odisha has become a model for successful deployment of nuclear-linked water purification technologies. In Kalahandi district, 500 RO-based purification units, established with the support of the Department of Atomic Energy, are ensuring supply of clean and safe domestic drinking water by removing salinity and harmful chemical constituents.
The Minister added that ultrafiltration systems, targeted at eliminating microbes and pathogens, have also been deployed in select regions. In addition to Kalahandi, community water purification units are operational in Khordha, Mayurbhanj, and Boudh districts.
Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the Government has adopted a non-discriminatory, need-based approach for the rollout of nuclear-supported purification systems across India. Apart from Odisha, installations have been undertaken in West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Karnataka, ensuring that states governed by any political party receive equal support wherever public health demands such intervention.
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