Revised cost estimates for the six additional low temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) plants to be built at different locations in India’s Lakshadweep Islands area are being prepared by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
The Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri S Jaipal Reddy, said in a written parliamentary answer that work had been halted because cost escalation sought by the contractor M/s KCEL was not permitted under the contract.
“An action for termination of contract with M/s KCEL and simultaneous preparation of Detailed Project Report with revised cost estimates for establishing desalination plants in six islands has been initiated,” said the minister.
The islands are Androth, Kadamath, Amini, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kalpeni. Each LTTD plant will have a capacity of 100 m³/d.
The NIOT, which is an autonomous body within the ministry, has already commissioned three such plants in Kavaratti (2006) and Minicoy and Agatti (2011).
LTTD is a process by which warm surface seawater is flash-evaporated at low pressure and the vapour condensed with cold deep seawater. The technology does not require any chemical pre- and post-treatment of seawater, minimising pollution problems and making it suitable for island territories.