Chennai to get 2 more desalination plants

CHENNAI: The State government is taking steps to establish two more desalination plants at Nemmeli (on East Coast Road) aiming to quench the thirst of Chennai, municipal administration minister S. P. Velumani has said. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami would lay the foundation stone for the 150 MLD (million litres a day) plant in about a week's time, he said.

 “The work for the 150 MLD plant will commence soon so as to meet the requirement for additional water. In addition, we are planning to set up 400 MLD plant,” Mr. Velumani said on Tuesday.

 According to sources the 150 MLD plant will be commissioned in two years' time and it would help to increase the water supply to 980 MLD from 830 MLD for the residents of Sholinganallur, Perungudi, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, OMR and Velacherry. The fourth plant of 400 MLD capacity is being planned at Perur. The city has 100 MLD plant each at Nemmelli and Minjur.

 As to the delay in establishing the third plant (of 150 MLD), the Minister said “it was because of the huge financial entailment. Our Chief Minister visited New Delhi and sought the required funds and approval. Now things will go fast track.”

He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the `3 crore drinking water supply projects for Madambakkam and Chitlapakkam town panchayats besides treatment plants to provide drinking water from stone quarries for Pammal and Anakaputhur municipalities here, in the presence of state rural industries minister P. Benjamin on Tuesday.

The project for Pammal and Anakaputhur envisages the drawing of water from five abandoned quarries in Senkazhuneermalai to provide drinking water for the residents of the two municipalities. This would help to supply 15 lakh litres for Pammal and another 10 lakh litres for Anakaputhur areas.

Mr Velumani said the timely action by the state government had averted the 2014-like water crisis in the state.