The under-construction desalination plant in Nemelli in Kancheepuram district, capable of supplying 100 million litres of water a day (MLD) to Chennai city, is now expected to be completed only by June 2012, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) officials said on Wednesday. It was to be completed this December, the officials added and said unexpected erosion of the coast had delayed the project.
Kancheepuram Member of Parliament P Vishwanathan of the Congress, who visited the site with CMWSSB officials, interacted with representatives from the nearby villages to take stock of the problems they face.
Many of the villagers said they had lost their livelihood since construction of the plant began. “The sea has come at least 300 feet inland. A 20-feet-deep pit has been formed with officials constantly removing sand from the sea front. We have had no employment especially in the last four months,” said panchayat president for New Kalpakkam, Nemmelikuppam and Suleri Katukuppam, K M Sampath.
The MP first suggested that the villagers go to the neighbouring village for fishing, but when politely told that the residents there would have a problem, he said: “I am a fisherman myself and I understand your pains.” Later, he ordered CMWSSB officials to lay more stones on the sea front to prevent further erosion. The villagers also apprised the MP of the improper disbursement of the monthly compensation for their loss in livelihood and land. “Every family is to get Rs1,500 a month but gets only Rs700. Also, only 127 of the 260 families get it,” said Sampath.
Vishwanathan promised a meeting between the villagers and the Kancheepuram collector and sought a report of all the development activity the company responsible for the plant had done for the village.
The plant will reject 265 ml of saltwater for every 100 ml of potable water generated. The Rs 1,030-crore project is expected to add 100 MLD to the 570 MLD the Chennai Corporation is already supplying. Presently, the demand is 1,000 MLD and is estimated to grow to 1,700 MLD by 2020.
