Chennai: T Pradeep, a professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras hailing from Kerala, has won the prestigious Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water which carries a cash component of Rs 2 crore.

Pradeep, who belongs to Panthavoor in Malappuram district, was selected for the award for developing a mechanism to remove the poisonous Arsenic content from water utilizing nanotechnology. Also a previous winner of the Padmashree award, Pradeep holds the patent for Amrit Water Filter, which purifies water at a low cost. Amrit has been officially recognized by the Central Government and is now used in various states. Incidentally, Pradeep holds over 90 patents.

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Situation in Kerala

Regarding the quality of potable water in his home state, Pradeep said, “Kerala has the safest well water in India.”

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However, the top scientist issued a warning. “Intensive use of potent insecticides in farmlands is gradually making water in such areas unsafe for consumption,” he said.

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