India, May 3 -- LUCKNOW The persistent struggle for clean and safe water in dozens of villages across the Firozabad Lok Sabha constituency remains unchanged over the decades. Visit the Kolamai village, 15km away from the Firozabad district headquarters, in the morning or evening and you will invariably witness a common scene: Villagers hurrying to distant places with large containers to fetch clean drinking water for themselves as well as their livestock. This is the routine villagers have been following for generations.

The challenge is not due to water scarcity. On the contrary, there is ample underground water in the village. But it is undrinkable and bitter to the extent that even animals refuse to consume it.

"As water is too bitte...