Funding go-ahead for Chennai desalter

A 100,000m³/d seawater reverse-osmosis desalination plant was approved on 2 January 2009 for the Indian city of Chennai by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The plant, which will cost $ 187 million, will be sited at Nemmeli, near Chennai, and will be completed by November 2010.

The new desalter will lead to an additional per-capita supply of 44 L/d for Chennai and will be implemented by the Chennai Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board. The state of Tamil Nadu will receive a $ 179 government grant towards the project.

Chennai, India’s fourth largest city and an important economic centre, has faced acute water shortages in recent years. In 2004, water had to be freighted by road tanker and rail from places as far away as Neyveli and Mettur.