Indian city retail quarter to get desalination plant

The giant retail quarter of Indian city Chennai, Thyagaraya Nagar is expected to get a new 41 Ml/d desalination plant that would supply some 300,000 residents.

Chennai is to build the Rs 173.33 crore (US$ 25.4 million) desalination plant under India’s Smart Cities Mission which funds the roll out of smart metering and other communications reported the regional newspaper The Hindu. The Indian government insisted that Chennai include upgraded water supplies for Thyagaraya Nagar residents as part of the smart communications installation.

“Information and communication technology is the key aspect of a smart city. But the government will not accept any proposal unless we offer residents water supply 24/7. Once the project is successfully implemented, such proposals will be extended to all other parts of the city,” said a Chennai corporation official.

The government has yet to decide on the location of the proposed plant.
The population of Thyagaraya Nagar – India’s largest retail quarter by sales - is currently 226,000 with water consumption per person at 90 l/d generating a demand of 30 Ml/d. The specification for the plant is based on anticipated increase reported The Hindu.

The current supply provided by water company, Metrowater, from Chembarambakam lake and two desalination plants, is insufficient to meet future requirements.

Thyagaraya Nagar has been shortlisted for smart development at an estimated cost of Rs. 206 crore (US$ 30.3 million).