It looks like there is an end in sight for the water and power
problems of residents in Kumbalangi and Chellanam panchayats. A
desalination plant for these pockets of West Kochi is in the pipeline.

 Proposed
by a private company, the plant is expected to bring relief to the
coastal panchayats where drinking water has been a burning issue for
years.

According to sources the company would set up the plant at
an estimated cost of `16 crore. The operation of the plant and
distribution of water will be vested with the Kerala Water Authority.

The
promoters also claimed that the plant would be eco-friendly. “It will
function on conventional energy, available locally. It will be
cost-effective too, with the  production cost per litre as low as 10
paise.

Drinking water will be produced through vapourisation of
saline. The plant will be capable of producing 1 MLD (Million Litres per
Day) of water,” said M P Sivadathan of the Kumbalangi Model Tourism
Development Society.

 The plant will also generate around 2400
units of electricity. He said the Kerala Water Authority is likely to
operate and take over the distribution of water produced at the plant.
“Certain minerals will be added to the water produced at the plant to
raise its quality to international standards,” said Sivadathan, who is a
member of the committee constituted to look into the project.

 A
similar project has been implemented at Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu
which a team of officials of KWA and representatives of local bodies
recently visited.

“The plant in Tamil Nadu is smaller in size compared to the one proposed for West Kochi.

A
final decision regarding the project is to be taken at a meeting of KWA
officials and representatives of Kumbalangi and Chellanam panchayats
and other organisations in the region, in Thiruvamnanthapuram, on
Wednesday,” he said.