INDIA: CALCUTTA CAN RECYCLES WASTE WITHOUT PROCESSING PLANTS

Eng/Bengali/Nat In spite of overcrowding and pollution the Indian city of Calcutta is able to recycle much of its own waste even though it has no processing plants. A third of the city's industrial waste and sewage is being naturally broken down as a result of the delicate balance of fish and plant life in Calcutta's eastern marshlands. Not only does Calcutta have no water treatment facility but the purified marsh water also provides enough fish and produce to feed up to 5-thousand people every day. Scientists see it as a major environmental breakthrough and a safe natural alternative to expensive water treatment plants. However the environmental miracle is now under threat. Each day, Calcutta pumps 23 (m) million litres of raw sewage into it's marshes. But this waste, rather than being an environmental catastrophe, actually benefits fishermen. Sunlight decomposes the waste, feeding large pools of algae which in turn provide food for 12 species of fish. These fishermen can net 20 truckloads a day. SOUNDBITE: (Bengali) "We've been fishing here for a long time. With the sewage coming in, we have to fish in these dirty waters, but the fish are fine, we eat it and sell it in the market. It's been good for us." SUPER CAPTION: Marsh fisherman The marshes are being hailed as an environmental breakthrough - a safe natural alternative to expensive water treatment plants. Sewage from Calcutta suburbs mixes with waste to form a toxic mixture of organic and metallic sludge. While a system of natural streams routes the sewage north of the city, vast stretches of hyacinths filter out the heavy metals. Other plants leech the grease and oil. The naturally treated water irrigates local farmland, aiding the harvest of 150 tons of vegetables a day. SOUNDBITE: (Bengali) "The water is good for our crops. It helps the fishermen and then we use it to grow food. By the time it comes to us, it's all filtered and it becomes sweet. " SUPER CAPTION: Marshland farmer Calcutta has 20-thousand acres of marshland. But each year, hundreds of acres are drained and "reclaimed" by politically powerful real estate brokers out to make big money. In recent years, environmentalists have rallied to protect the marshes. In 1992, the Calcutta High Court banned all construction on marshland. But that hasn't stopped development. Now, scientists are hoping the marshes' environmental success will help protect their existence. SOUNDBITE: (English) "There is a tension actually, who gets more sewage water. I've never heard of anywhere in the world where there is such a demand for sewage water for use in agriculture or fisheries." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Ashis Ghosh, environmental scientist Another pending bill in the West Bengal State Assembly seeks to further protect the marshlands from development. But the bill has been stalled by bureaucratic wrangling. If development isn't stopped, the city could end up concreting over its greatest natural resource. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/ac85856d9c95c30316613514194c71ba Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork