Rs 9,938.3-mn desalination project discussed with TN CM

Chennai: The detailed project report for a Rs 993.83-crore desalination plant to supply drinking water to Chennai was submitted to the Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, here on Tuesday.

According to an official press release, the report, approved by the State-level steering-cum-monitoring committee, was jointly prepared by Mecon Ltd, a Central Government undertaking, and the Switzerland-based Addeco Technologies. The Local Administration Minister, Mr M.K. Stalin, handed over the report.

The Tamil Nadu Government plans to set up the 100-million-litre-a-day-desalination plant at Nemili village near Mamallapuram, about 50 km south of Chennai.

The facility to come up close to the sea on 40 acres land will desalinate seawater and supply freshwater to Chennai’s residents.

The water will be piped to the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater) distribution centres in Thiruvanmiyur, Pallipattu and Velachery, the release said.

Funding for the project will be through Central Government assistance, the release said.

This will be the second desalination plant to cater to Chennai’s water requirement. The first is coming up at Minjur to the north of the city.

This facility is being set up at a cost of Rs 510 crore through a joint venture, Chennai Water Desalination Ltd, between the Hyderabad-based IVRCL and Befesa, Spain.

They won the bid for the design-build-own-operate-transfer project called by Metrowater.