Plans for Chennai’s fourth desalination plant have moved forward following a visit from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The 400,000 m3/day proposal will see Chennai Metrowater implementing the project within 42 months, once the contract has been awarded.
The State government had sought funding to construct the plant under JICA, which visited the site to scrutinise the project and finalise funding, according to regional newspaper, The Hindu.
There are currently two plants in operation in the area and another already in the planning stages.
A WABAG joint venture was awarded the contract to design, construct and operate the Nemmelli 100,000 m3/day reverse osmosis (RO) plant from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which started up in 2013.
Meanwhile the 100,000 m3/day Minjur RO desalination plant has been carried out by Indian infrastructure firm IVRCL on a design, build, own, operate and transfer basis over a 25 year period.
A third project was announced in September last year after funding was announced from the German government funding agency, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) to the Tamil Nadu State government.
The $208 million plant is expected to treat 150,000 m3/day to supply 900,000 people with drinking water in southern and central Chennai.
Reported forecasts suggest that although two desalination plants – Nemmeli and Minjur – are already in operation, this is not enough to meet city demand together with reservoir water.
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