CHENNAI: Ramanathapuram and Keelakarai are likely to come under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, a programme of the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

As part of the scheme, two desalination plants, with a capacity of 2.5 million litres a day (MLD) and estimated to cost around Rs. 20 crores, have been proposed for the two towns. Seawater will be the raw water for the plants.

The Union Ministry's annual report 2004-05 states that technical approval has been given on receipt of the revised detailed project reports and the cost has been reworked as Rs. 17.41 crores. "The first instalment of 50 per cent of the Central share is being released," the document says.

However, official sources here say no formal communication has been received from the Centre.

Though the Central assistance can be sought under several schemes such as the Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) for desalination plants, conditions such as criterion of population are attached. But, in the new scheme, these restrictions will not be insisted. The component of the desalination plants has been included on the advice of the Union Planning Commission.

Again, the Commission's directive is a response to the commitment made by the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre under the National Common Minimum Programme, in which the installation of desalination plants along the Coromandel Coast has been promised.

Normally, the Central assistance under the AUWSP accounts for 50 per cent of the project cost. A proposal has been mooted to enhance it to 90 per cent in relaxation of the guidelines of the programme.

Apart from Tamil Nadu, the Centre has received proposals from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa besides Pondicherry for desalination plants. Bapatla, Chirala and Bheemunipatanam towns have been identified by the Andhra Pradesh Government. The Central authorities have given the nod for Bheemunipatanam, for which funds under the AUWSP may be given.

Pondicherry and Gopalpur (Orissa) will have desalination plants at a cost of Rs. 10.74 crores and Rs. 4.61 crores respectively, for which the approval has been accorded.

Government's efforts

The State Government, through the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, is working on various schemes to ensure that people in the two towns of Ramanathapuram district are supplied at least 40 litres per capita a day. The desalination plants have been proposed for achieving sustainability in water supply.

For the district, the Government has formulated a comprehensive water supply scheme, aimed at providing 60 MLD to about 2,500 habitations.

In respect of desalination plants, the State Government has installed 21 units in the district, of which all but two are dependent on brackish groundwater. The two units at Naripeyyur and Rameswaram draw seawater. The Naripeyyur unit has the capacity to produce 3.8 MLD. The capacity of all the units is estimated to about 4.5 MLD and reverse osmosis is the technology.

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