Bhubaneswar, Dec. 21 -- Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an innovative wastewater treatment system that uses low-grade raw coal to remove harmful pesticides from agricultural runoff. The breakthrough, led by Prof. Pradip Chowdhury and Ph.D. scholar Smruti Smita Sahoo from the Department of Chemical Engineering, promises a cost-effective and sustainable solution to India's growing water contamination problem.

Excessive use of chemical pesticides in agriculture, especially during peak harvesting seasons, has long been a concern in India. Climatic changes, irregular monsoons, and untimely seasons often exacerbate pest-related crop damage, leading farmers to rely heavily on pesticides. These c...