OVER 500 WATER DESALINATION PLANTS LIKELY BY 2017: PHD CHAMBER

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and India Water Foundation on Thursday forecast that roughly over 500 desalination plants of sizeable capacity are likely to be commissioned in and around India’s coast line measuring 7,600 km by 2017 with public and private investments including foreign capital in view of rising demand of pure drinking water with its scarce supplies.

The report which was circulated during a Conference on “Water Desalination for 21^st Century-Perspective, Opportunities and Challenges” organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, however, points out that the number of such plants will multiply in near future since water desalination sector has begun to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22 per cent.

It highlights, emphasizing, “there is a growing use of desalination water technology in water scarce state such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.  Tamil Nadu has maximum number of state government owned desalination plants in Nochikuppan, Kasimedu and Valechery (area around Chennai), Ayodhyakuppam, Narippaiyur, Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram and Kalpakkam.  New Plants  are coming at Karalikal, Tuticorin, Nemili, Minjur and other places.  There is also proposal to set up municipal and industrial desalination plants at Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Jalore and Sirohi in Rajasthan”.

The report which was circulated in the presence of Head, Technology Missions Division, Department of Science & Technology, Dr. Rajiv Sharma; Scientist G, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. Purnima Jalihal; Vice President, PHD Chamber, Mr. Anil Khaitan and its Director, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, however, points out that Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been more active in setting up desalination plants in comparison to other coastal states in India. 

Desalination market, which is highly fragmented in India is growing on PPP and BOOT model, also offering opportunities for Israel’s IDE company which is working on over 20 projects in India, in which 13 are functional and remaining are in manufacturing and assembling stage.

The report concludes India is one of the big upcoming global markets for desalination with new innovative technologies, yielding low cost durable plants in which membrane technologies are considered 23 per cent cheaper for generating desalinated water when compared with thermal technologies.