World Bank project

Under the guidance of Dr Sen Gupta, Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission - Institute of Advanced Studies (RKVM-IAS), Agarpara came out winner in the "Global Development Marketplace Competition" conducted by the World Bank in 2006 under the Water & Sanitation for the Poor People category. The World Bank allotted RKVM-IAS with fund for installing six in-situ arsenic treatment plants at six separate locations in rural Bengal. RKVM-IAS, under the Chief Advisorship of Dr. Bhaskar Sen Gupta of Queen's University, Belfast and with help from CML-The Netherlands, ISWA-Stuttgart University & Universidad Miguel Hernandez (UMH), Spain carried out extensive survey & research on the arsenic scenario, socio-economic condition of the people, willingness-to-pay and market demand in various villages of Murshidabad, Burdwan, Nadia and North 24 Parganas. They short listed 6 villages in Chakdah, Basirhat, Gobardanga and Ranaghat region, acquired land from the villagers through mediation of Panchayat and started installing the plants in December 2007.

Go to the project page at the World Bank Development Marketplace website