By IANS,
Chennai : Giving a boost to the water desalination industry, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Tuesday announced her government’s plans to set up two mega desalination plants near here.
Making the announcement in the state assembly, Jayalalithaa said: “In order to satisfy the water needs of the growing population in Chennai, a 150 million litres per day (mlpd) desalination plant at an outlay of Rs.1,000 crore will be set up adjacent to the existing plant at Nemmeli.”
The proposed plant will come up on the 10.5-acre plot adjacent to the existing 100 million lpd plant, commissioned recently by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, commonly known as Chennai Metro Water.
The existing plant was built by the city-based Va Tech Wabag at a cost of around Rs.580 crore and another Rs.500 crore will be spent by the company over the seven-year time frame on operation and maintenance.
Jayalalithaa also announced the government’s decision to build a 200 million lpd desalination plant near here with a facility to double the initial capacity.
Apart from Nemmeli, there is another 100 million lpd desalination plant set up at Minjur near here by Chennai Metro Water on design, build, own, operate and transfer basis.
Chennai Metro Water will buy the water from Chennai Water Desalination Ltd. (CWDL) that built and operates the desalination plant at Minjur.