Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) A three-day international conference on water quality with special reference to arsenic, a major concern for many states including West Bengal, would begin here from February 18. "Arsenic from ground water has become a major concern for many states of India and several countries of the world. The objective of the meeting is to share experience with other countries and find its remedy," West Bengal Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee said. Latest research, techniques and development in related fields internationally and its application to check arsenic contamination, besides a strategy to mitigate it and reduce the health hazards in a systematic and scientific manner would be discussed by participants from over 14 countries. About 45 international experts from Switzerland, USA, UK, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand, besides 25 from the country are expected to participate in the conference being organised jointly by the PHE departmnet ande Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, several other union and state ministers would participate in the conference, he said.
