TEL AVIV(ISRAEL): Leading players in cutting edge solar energy technology, agriculture, water management fighting the problem of water salination, environmental and water pollution are likely to visit Punjab in the coming days as a follow up to the joint developmental thrust proposed between Israel and Punjab.

The government of India has been approach to facilitate the process.

Earlier, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal  called on the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour of Israel Binyamin Ben-Eliezer last evening to explore the possibility of joint collaboration between Israel and Punjab in several developmental areas.

Giving the details Chief Minister's Media Adviser Harcharan Bains said that during the meeting with the captains of Industry and Experts, Badal laid special stress on efficient and cost effective treatment of water for domestic as well as agriculture purposes. 

A presentation was made on the treatment of effluents from Industries through an effective use of technology regarding membrane filtration system to make water fit for human consumption, apart from irrigation. Similarly, Badal sought usage of technology for online monitoring of parameters before the discharge of treated water for irrigation and other purposes. He also saw the presentation on the flow and control of treated effluents.

Badal also underlined the need for treatment of effluents of industrial wastes and domestic sewage through the application of state-of-the-art-technology of Reverse Osmosis (RO). The RO system is already being put in operation in several parts of the state where salinity and brackish water posed a serious threat to health especially in the rural areas of Malwa belt.

The Chief Minister told the representative of different companies that he wanted not only to fine tune and streamline the application of RO system but also to make it even more economical and cost effective for the consumers.

One of the companies, Tahal is already active in several states of India since 1994. This company plans to undertake statewide survey of the status of the falling underground water table in majority of blocks in Punjab.

The companies whose representatives met the Chief Minister included CPY Solar Energy Limited., Merkort- Israeli National Water Management Company Tahal and AMIAD Israel. The last company specializes in water salination as a replacement for the traditional Rural Water Supply.

According to the Media Advisor, the Punjab contingent led by Badal also later visited the ‘Holocaust  Museum’ at Jeruslem,  where Badal, Bains and Cheema and along with India’s Ambassador to Israel Navtej  Singh Sarna prayed for world peace.