Question : LOW TEMPERATURE THERMAL DESALINATION



(a) whether the Government proposes to convert the sea water into potable water by using Low Temperature Thermal Desalination technology and transport it through pipelines to the water deficit areas, including Rajasthan for providing drinking water under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the expenditure likely to be incurred thereon;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study to analyse its cost effectiveness;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (Independent Charge)(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a & b) While, there is no proposal for public private partnership to generate potable water and transport it to water deficit area like Rajasthan, presently the efforts are focused on scaling up the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology. Earlier, three LTTD plants have been successfully commissioned in the country, one each at Kavaratti, Minicoy, and Agatti islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The capacity of each of these LTTD plants is 1 lakh liter of potable water per day. It is proposed to set up a LTTD plant with a capacity of generating 2 million litres of potable water per day (2 MLD) at the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station, Tamil Nadu. Design of an offshore large scale plant is also underway.

(c & d) The cost per liter of desalination would depend on the technology used and cost of electricity which varies from place to place. According to the cost estimates made by an independent agency for LTTD technology, the operational costs per litre of desalinated potable water is about 61 paise for island based plants.

(e) Does not arise.

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