CHENNAI: Aiming to quench parched Chennai’s thirst, and also to meet the additional requirement for water, the State government has accorded administrative sanction to establish 400 MLD capacity sea water reverse osmosis desalination plant at Perur along the East Coast Road in Thiruporur block of Kancheepuram district, for Rs 6,078.40 crore.

This will be the fourth such plant for the metro. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide financial assistance for the project. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board had prepared the detailed project report (DPR) and submitted it to the government on July 23, 2014 seeking financial assistance from JICA.

Accepting the proposal of the Managing Director, CMWSSB, the government decided to accord administrative sanction for Rs. 6,078.40 crore towards setting up of the 400 MLD capacity desalination plant with a funding pattern of Rs 4,267.70 crore assistance from JICA, Rs 749.60 crore from Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Fund (TNIDF) and state budgetary support of Rs 1,061.10 crore. The government order issued by principal secretary to government, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Harmander Singh, on September10, said the entire project cost has been sanctioned.

This project will be ready by 2024. The first desalination plant for the city was set up in Minjur in 2003 to supply 90 MLD water to Manali, Ennore, Madhavaram, Kathivakkam, Tirukottiyur, Thondiarpet and Vysarpadi, and the second plant at Nemmeli in 2010 of 90 MLD capacity supplying water for Sholinganallur, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, Karappakkam, Thorappakkam and Perungudi. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for the third plant at Nemmeli to supply 150 MLD water to Velacherry, Alandur, St. Thomas Mount, Medavakkam, Kovilambakkam, Nanmangalam and Kilkattalai and other areas.