Union Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched India’s first saltwater lantern that uses seawater as an electrolyte between specially designed electrodes to power LED lamps.
Dr Jitendra Singh unveiled the first of its kind lantern named ‘Roshni’ during a visit to SAGAR ANVESHIKA, an offshore research vessel operated and used by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai for coastal research. The minister said the Saline Water Lantern would bring “easy life” to the poor and needy, especially the fishing community living along India’s 7,500-kilometer coastline.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the Saline Water Lantern will also strengthen and complement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UJALA scheme launched in 2015 to distribute LED bulbs across the country. He said that Roshini Lamps along with Power Department schemes like Solar Study Lamps will drive a vibrant renewable energy program aimed at achieving energy security, access to energy and reducing the carbon footprint of the national economy.
Dr Jitendra Singh also pointed out that this technology can also be used inland where sea water is not available as any salt water or normal water mixed with common salt can be used to power the lamp which is not only cost effective. , but very easy to control. The minister commended the NIOT team for inventing the Roshini lamp and advised them to transfer the technology to industry for mass production of this multi-purpose lamp which can be of immense help in rural and remote areas and in times of disasters.
Later Dr. Jitendra Singh along with MES Secretary Dr. They visited the laboratories with M. Ravichandran and hoisted the tricolor on board the ship. The minister extended the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to ‘Har Jahaj Tiranga’ and hoisted the Indian flag on board the vessel. He also met senior scientists from NIOT on board the vessel and reviewed the progress of the Deep Ocean of India mission.
Dr Jitendra Singh also reviewed the progress of NIOT technology developed by Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) to convert sea water into potable water which has been successfully demonstrated in Lakshadweep Islands. He informed that three desalination plants based on LTTD technology have been developed and demonstrated at Kavaratti, Agati and Minicoy islands in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The capacity of each of these LTTD plants is 1 Lakh liter of potable water per day.
Secretary of the MoE Dr. M. Ravichandran informed Dr. Jitendra Singh that based on the success of these plants, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Union Territory (UT) Lakshadweep has mandated to set up 6 more LTTD plants at Amini, Androth, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Kiltan with a capacity of 1.5 million litres/day. The LTTD technology is suitable for the Lakshadweep islands, where the required temperature difference of about 15⁰C between sea surface water and deep water is so far only found near the coast of Lakshadweep. The cost of a desalination plant depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to the technology used and the location of the plant. The total cost of six LTTD plants in Lakshadweep Islands is Rs. 187.75 cr.
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