mumbai

Updated: Jul 14, 2017 12:25 IST

Thane might soon get an additional source to supply water.

Thane Municipal Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with a private firm to set up the desalination plant, work on which will begin after monsoon and be complete d in the next two years.

Other than this, the corporation has also signed an MoU with solar power private limited to install solar panels of 10 megawatt on various civic buildings.

To ease the water woes of the city, the corporation proposed in June, 2016 that it will desalinate the creek water and use it for drinking purpose. The projects will be set up on a public private participation basis where the corporation will not have to shell out money. The city has a vast coastline, the creek water is unexplored. This kind of desalination happens in countries like Japan, Australia, China, North Africa and European countries. In India the plants are set up in Gujarat and Chennai. The corporation plans to use the same technology in Thane.

Sandeep Malvi, public relation officer of TMC, said, “The treatment plan will treat 20 mld of creek water every day. Thane Municipal Corporation will be the first in the state to implement this. We have signed the MoU with Fontus Desalia Water Pvt Ltd. Work will begin after monsoon and the project will be completed in the next two years.”

Thane creek is unpolluted in several spots where such a plant can be set up. The Kasheli creek was one such site under consideration.

Apart from desalination, the corporation has also signed MoU for a solar energy project. Malvi said, “We will be installing solar panels on civic buildings generating 10 megawatt power on PPP basis. We have shortlisted 21 places, where the panels will be fitted. Apart from this, solar panels will also be fitted on 56 TMC schools, from which 153 megawatt solar energy will be generated. The present power requirement for TMC is 55 megawatt, the remaining power generated can be added to the power grid and supplied to residents. An MoU with Solar Power Pvt. Ltd. Was signed on Thursday.”

The need for the desalination plant

The city receives 480 mld of water from four sources. However, this summer due to last year’s scanty rainfall, the water available was merely 314 mld, imposing a water cut of over 40% in the city. The corporation tried many ways of conserving water including rain water harvesting and water recycling, however, the issue was not resolved. The residents had to face a shutdown of 48 to 60 hours. The desalination process will make an additional source of water available for usage.

How it works

The plant will be based on ‘reverse osmosis’ technology, commonly referred to as RO, which is a water purification process that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from the water.

The corporation will spend Rs15 lakh to hire consultants for the project.

TMC will also provide the land and bear the power cost of the project, the remaining expenses will be incurred by the agency allotted the work.

The company will be responsible to ensure that the potable water fulfils all the required water quality criteria. This water will be connected to the distribution system of the corporation.

The company can sell the water to the corporation at the rates finalised by the corporation, the company can also sell few bottled water to remove the maintenance expense of the plant.