It was first of its kind in north east. A solar operated water purification plant planned and designed by NIT Silchar was installed in the Uttar Krishnapur Part III village, on the eastern fringe of this town, inhabited by a mixed population of Nagas and Bengalis, on Sunday last. It was a gift to around 45 families just on the eve of the 70th Independence Day of the country. The plant was inaugurated by S Viswanathan, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, in presence of Dr. N V Deshpande, Director, NIT Silchar. In order to make the event memorable, a programme was arranged in the village on the occasion to make the gathering acquainted all about the subtleties and niceties of the plant that would provide the villagers safe and pure drinking water. So long, the only source of water in the area was a well, but it was not hygienic to drink or use. Realizing the scarcity of water, NIT Silchar took the initiative to develop and design the plant. It took almost one and half years to come up with the novel conception on which Rs.1.75 lakh was spent. Giving a brief account of the plant, Dr. Deshpande said after successful laboratory test at IIT Bombay, Thyrocare, Bombay, MECL Nagpur, NIT Silchar decided to set up the plant which was designed by Dr. Oasim Arif, Dr. Vivek Mate and Dr. Ashis Digre. He said if fully charged, the battery could operate for 4 to 5 days even in cloudy or rainy days. He pointed out NIT would work in the interest of people and if the state government desired, it would come forward to have such plants in those areas which suffer from scarcity of drinking water. The daily capacity of this plant is 2000 litres and the capacity of solar pump is 600 litres per hours. Though the solar motor is made in America, NIT, he disclosed, is doing research work on it to make its own innovation. The first innovative work by the Institute here is generation of electricity by solar power. The next target is to have a water boat project for the convenience of people to travel from one place to another which will be not only eco-friendly but also an economic means of conveyance. S Viswanathan was all praise for the plant and the benefits that the villagers would get from it as a source of potable water. This was an age of technology and he called upon the youths to come forward and take up innovative works in the larger benefit of rural people. He assured there would be no dearth of financial help. The brief function was ably conducted by Payal Rongmei which concluded with the vote of thanks offered by Jagadish Parab on behalf of the inhabitants of the area.