Desalination plant to be ready by June 2012

CHENNAI: The Rs 871.24 crore desalination plant in Nemelli will be completed by June 2012, and the city will get additional 100 MLD of water, Metro Water sources said Saturday.The project, which was reviewed by the Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister KP Munusamy on Friday, is nearly 75 per cent complete.The project was supposed to be completed by the end of this year, but due to technical glitches, officials have extended the deadline to June 2012, sources said.Metro water sources said that the minister has urged L&T to expedite the work of laying the pipeline, construction of underground tanks and erection of electromechanical works in the pump house at plant site.Meanwhile, construction relating to the intake chamber, reverse osmosis, mechanical and electrical equipment is also pending.About 265 MLD of raw water from sea will be drawn by laying 1600 mm pipes for a length of 1042 metres, and after undergoing reverse osmosis, 100 MLD desalinated water would be produced.The scheme was planned during AIADMK regime and implemented by the DMK regime.The plant is set up on an extent of 40.05 acres of land belonging to Alavandar Trust on East Coast Road at about 35km from Chennai city in Nemmeli and Krishnan Karanai Villages in Chengalpattu taluk in Kancheepuram district.The land has been given on lease to Metro water for a period of 30 years. The rent is fixed at Rs 1.12 lakh per month with a provision of 15 per cent increase once in three years.