The Deccan Chronicle 10.08.2010
Experts scoff state plan on desalination water plantsAug. 9: Experts have ridiculed the state government’s much-vaunted plan to meet the city’s water needs through desalination. Even as the ruling DMK brags about the recently-launched Minjur desalination plant that is said to be the country’s largest, water experts said that it was too costly and needless.
“Where is the need for investing Rs 600 crore for pumping 100mld (million litres per day) of desalinated water while nearby Kancheepuram has over 3,000 lakes?” asked Prof Janakarajan of the Madras Institute of Development Studies. As per the agreement, Chennai Metro Water has to pay nearly Rs 15 crore per month to the contract firm IVRCL at the rate Rs 48.66 per kilolitre.
The private company that invested Rs 600 crore would take back the investment in three years, while the contract period is for 25 years. “Countries such as Israel rely on desalination because their annual rainfall is just 330 mm, but the annual rainfall of Chennai is 1,200 mm,” said Prof Janakarajan.
A senior PWD official also pointed out that TN had been getting only over 7 tmcft, against the stipulated 12 tmcft of Krishna water, because of lack of storage facilities. “By enhancing the storage capacity, we will be able to supply enough water to Chennaites,” the PWD official added.
