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10 August 2026

Water purifiers for Assam floods

The topic provides a practical, technology-driven case study for disaster management and sustainable water solutions that can be used as an illustrative example in GS3 answers.

1 min read Day 14 of 18 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • CSIR-NEERI has deployed 100 units of 'NEERI-ZAR' emergency water purification systems to flood-hit districts of Charaideo, Jorhat, and Sivasagar in Assam.
  • NEERI-ZAR is a gravity-based, electricity-free, and zero-operational-cost filtration system.
  • The system removes suspended matter, turbidity, and microbial contamination from ambient water sources like rivers, ponds, and wells.
  • The deployment consists of 25 community-based units and 75 household units, with a total capacity of 2,500 litres of purified water per hour.
  • The technology was originally developed during the 2006 Barmer floods and has been deployed in various Indian disasters, including the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, 2015 Chennai floods, 2018 Kerala floods, and 2019 Bihar floods.
  • The system serves as an alternative to bottled water, reducing plastic waste and environmental/financial costs associated with traditional disaster relief.

Part of a longer story

This is day 14 of 18 in Monsoon floods in Assam, which has been running since 3 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the role of indigenous, low-cost technological innovations in enhancing disaster resilience and public health in flood-prone regions of India. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The management of drinking water supply during natural disasters remains a critical challenge for disaster governance. In light of the deployment of technologies like NEERI-ZAR, evaluate the importance of sustainable, non-electric, and decentralized water purification systems in mitigating environmental impacts and ensuring community health in disaster-affected areas. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. The 'NEERI-ZAR' water purification system, recently deployed in Assam, is characterized by which of the following features?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-10/water-purifiers-for-assam-floods