Roshni lantern

About Lantern-

• It uses the sea water as the electrolyte between specially designed electrodes to power the LED lamps.
• It was unveiled during the minister’s  visit to SAGAR ANVESHIKA, a Coastal Research Vessel, operated and used by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai for coastal research.
• The technology can also be used in hinterlands, where sea water is not available, as any saline water or normal water mixed with the common salt can be used to power the Roshni lantern, which makes it cost-effective and feasible to operate.
• Saline Water Lantern will boost and supplement the centre’s ‘UJALA scheme’ which was launched in 2015 for distribution of LED bulbs across the country.

A Technology to convert Seawater to Potablewater

• Apart from launching Roshni, the Union Minister also reviewed the progress of NIOT developed Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology for conversion of sea water to potable water, which has been successfully demonstrated in Lakshadweep islands.
• He informed that three desalination plants based on the LTTD technology have been developed and demonstrated at Kavaratti, Agati and Minicoy Islands of Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The capacity of each of these LTTD plants is 1 Lakh litre of potable water per day.

• Importantly, based on the success of these plants, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through Union Territory (UT) Lakshadweep has entrusted the work of establishing 6 more LTTD plants at Amini, Androth, Chetlet, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Kiltan with a capacity of 1.5 lakhs litres/day.