Asias Largest Seawater Desalination Project Launched in Chennai by Chief Minister MK Stalin
Posted on: 21/Aug/2023 4:28:09 PM
Chief Minister MK Stalin laid the foundation stone for a groundbreaking seawater desalination project at Nemmeli near Chennai, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,276.44 crore. Once completed, this project will become Asia`s largest drinking water initiative. It aims to supply water to the Tambaram corporation and 35 surrounding areas in the south-western part of Chennai, benefiting approximately 2.26 million people. Contractors have been instructed to finish the project within 42 months.
This initiative, originally announced in 2003-2004 to address Chennai`s drinking water shortage, has already seen the establishment of desalination plants with a daily capacity of 100 million liters each at Minjur and Nemmeli. These two plants currently fulfill 20 percent of Chennai`s total drinking water requirements.
In 2019, during the previous administration led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, the foundation stone for the second phase of the Nemmeli seawater desalination plant was laid. This phase, with a capacity of 150 million liters, is now nearing completion, and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to inaugurate it next month.
Additionally, plans are underway to establish a third drinking water plant in Perur near Nemmeli, purifying and distributing a staggering 400 million liters of seawater daily, at a cost of Rs 4,276 crore. This project signifies a significant step towards addressing Chennai`s water needs.
