‘Water Cycle’ Launched To Clean Ponds Free Of Cost In Odisha’s Berhampur City

Berhampur: The choked ponds in Berhampur city of Odisha’s Ganjam district may get a new lease of life with the launch of an innovative project ‘Sea-Horse’.

Sea-Horse, claimed to be made for the first time in India, is a water cycle constructed from waste materials like PVC pipes and unused cycle parts to fish out the floating garbage and trash from the water bodies at zero cost.

“This water cycle cleans the pond at zero cost as there is no motor, no batteries, no electricity attached. It is purely working with the mechanism of bicycle. We have attached welded nets in the cycle which collects the floating garbage and trash from the pond,” said Bharat Gourav Dash who invented this project.

“The maximum load capacity of the device is 100 kg and it can move around everywhere as it is driven by a human. Its cost is approximately Rs 3,000. However, the device is yet to be patented,” he added. Bharat is a Human Resource Manager of a reputed IT company and is also engaged as Ganjam District Coordinator of Sattvic Soul Foundation.

Bharat further said they have designed a life jacket from waste materials (plastic water bottle) to ensure the safety of the operator. “Our pilot test in Bijipur Pond here on Rath Yatra day yielded outstanding results, marking a significant milestone for our team,” he added.

A large crowd, which had gathered to witness the launch of the project, highly appreciated it. They were thrilled to watch the water cycle, operated by the volunteers, cleaning the floating plastics and unwanted wastes from the inner side of the pond.

Bharat said he thought of Project Sea Horse after finding the government spending huge funds to clean the ponds in Berhampur last year. The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) had launched cleaning of 42 water bodies in the city with the Amphibian weed harvester vessel machine Truxor T-50 which is of Swedish origin. Truxor machine costs more than Rs 3.19 crore and its operational cost is also very high.

“I started thinking about a device that will clean the floating trash of the ponds free of cost, engage minimum human efforts and be environment friendly. Then the idea of water cycle struck me,” said 28-year-old Bharat.

Sattvic Soul Foundation, which launched the project, has been working for climate action in Berhampur and outside. It is engaged in beach cleaning, mangrove forest conservation and restorations, Olive Ridley turtle conservation in Ganjam, plantation and awareness drives.

It is also working in the rural and tribal areas of Odisha to educate the underprivileged children through regular free classes, free dance classes, competition and motivate them to join the government schools. Besides, it is promoting awareness on menstrual hygiene among the rural, tribal and minority communities.