Scientists discover arsenic-resistant bugs

the Central University of South Bihar, Patna, have isolated bacteria from the Gangetic plains that can treat arsenic present in groundwater. They have found 48 types of bacteria that have arsenic detoxification potential. Two of them— AK1 and AK9 belonging to the genus Pseudomonas— can break down arsenic-III, implicated in arsenic poisoning, to its benign form, arsenic-V by a process called bioremediation. The research was conducted with water samples from hand pumps of 12 habitations in Bihar's Bhojpur and Patna districts. The researchers have also developed clones of these bacteria that can be impregnated into plants which will make them resistant towards arsenic. Hence, vegetables consumed from these plants will also make people resistant to arsenic. The final results will, however, come after two years.

of struggle, the panic-stricken Capetonians are relieved after the ruling Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane announced that "Day Zero will not occur in 2018". There will be no need to turn off taps if the current rate of water consumption continues and if there is rainfall in the winter, he said. So has the South African metropolis actually managed to keep the disaster at bay? Media reports say Capetonians are still living off a daily allowance of 50 litres a day; the UN considers anything less than 1,000 litres a day as water scarce situation (see `World of Cape Towns', Down To Earth, 16-31 March, 2018). The dam levels are still 23 per cent.

The Western Cape of which Cape Town is the capital has already entered a serious drought and residents of Breede Valley and Drakenstein do not have access to drinking water. Christian Alexander, Cape Town-based sustainability and urban planning specialist, says the government has worked in recent years to reverse inefficient use of water. Now it needs to focus on alternative water sources and bolster sewer systems to prevent Day Zero.