The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Naripaiyur desalination project runs into trouble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Naripaiyur desalination project runs into trouble

Staff Reporter

Commissioned in 1999 to provide 15 LPD to 296 inhabitants

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Naripaiyur desalination project, one of the biggest desalination projects in South Asia, has once again run into trouble, this time thanks to steel pipe, which causes desalinated water into colour water.

The mega project was commissioned in June 1999 with an aim to provide 15 LPD (Litres Per Day) to Naripaiyur and 296 other habitations, where there is no source for drinking water except sea water, which is also not suitable for drinking purposes because of high rate of TDS (Total Dissolved Salt).

Within few months of commissioning of the project, production was halted due to various technical and administrative reasons.

Though the re-commissioned project fulfilled the drinking water needs of nearly one lakh people of Kadaladi, Kamudhi and Muthukulathur blocks in the initial stages, the quality of the desalinated water deteriorated during later stages.

When water reaches the consumers, except the residents of Naripaiyur, Sikkal and Keezha Selvanoor areas, where distribution is done through PVC pipes, it looks like yellow colour water.

Coloured water

Even though this water is not suitable for consumption, residents have no options but to use the coloured water.

Official says that the desalination plant is functioning well, but the problem exists because of 58 km length of mild steel pipe, which through water being distributed to the beneficiaries.

The mild steel pipe causes deterioration of water quality as it (pipe) runs through the highly corrosive area and carries treated water.

However, official sources said that steps had already been initiated to sort out the issue.

Works would start soon to replace the existing steel pipe with heavy density polyethylene pipe for a distance of 7.5 km from Naripaiyur to Sayalkudi at a cost of Rs.95 lakhs.

Another proposal had been sent to Government to replace nearly 50 km steel pipe with HDPE pipe at a cost of Rs.2.70 crores.

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