Lucknow, May 12 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh state government has ordered the installation of 50 solar cycle potable water plants in Bundelkhand to tackle the acute drought and drinking water crisis in the region.

"Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has issued instructions to officials to install solar cycle potable water plants in 50 villages of Bundelkhand so that the water crisis in the region could be tackled at the earliest," an official told IANS on Thursday.

According to the official, the plants are part of a pilot project in the first phase.

The orders to the chief secretary and the principal secretary (irrigation) were issued in view of the utility of a similar solar cycle potable water plant in village Kurauni of the Sarojininagar development block in Lucknow, where 20,000 litres of pure drinking water was available in 24-hours.

A state government spokesman informed that for running this plant, there was no electricity requirement as it was run by solar power and it could also function by pedalling after the sunset.

Pure drinking water is made through the ultra-fine fibre filter and chlorinator.