Water Desalination Plant in Mumbai.

Need of the Hour - Water Desalination Plant in Mumbai.

Few years back, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai initiated the long awaited project of the century - Water Desalination in Mumbai. Considering the water needs of the city, which is growing every year by at least 8%. Lakes supplying water to the city haven’t been able to suffice the requirements. Hence municipal corporation decides for water cut every year, whenever the water limits fall down in the lakes supplying water.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_govt-sets-deadline-for-desalination-plants_1434493

Growing needs have made it clear, if there will be a shortage of a monsoon even for a single year, the problems will rise and conditions may worsen, hence black marketing of water will grow and the common man will Suffer. Water problem has actually grown over the country since last few years, even our capital is badly affected by Water Deficit making it difficult for common man.

Desalination is a process of removing salt, and other minerals from the sea water, so that it becomes useful for human daily purpose and even for drinking. Salt water from sea is desalinated in the process and salt is extracted additionally. Arab countries, Australia have widely used desalination processes in their countries, due to rainfall deficit in those countries.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1325775

I even remember Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan and shiv sena leader Uddhav Thakeray focused on the development of Mumbai city and desalination of seawater to overcome water crisis in the city, but in Jul 2011, the project was put on the hold. The largest desalination plant in South Asia is the ‘Minjur Desalination Plant’ near Chennai in India which produces 36.5 million cubic meters of water per year. When Chennai has done this long back, why is such not yet planned in Economical hub of the country? I have absolutely no idea, why Gov. puts the focus only when the damage has been done. I believe this sea Water Desalination project should have been implemented long years back, but I don’t see this possible even up to next 5 years, that’s pathetic. Chennai is the only city in city which has successfully experimented the desalination of seawater. Recently Gujarat in 2012 signed an agreement with Japanese leader for Water Desalination plant for the Asia’s largest Sea Water Desalination plant in SEZ in south Gujarat.

Since last 5 years, there have been ample amount of waterfall across the country; hence the problem of water deficit has not been visible so far.  Where country already suffers from recycling garbage, water re-usability is a horrible dream for the policy makers and next to impossible dream. Its inefficiency and poor control of any public service system, unless the problem is not visible, solution won’t be implemented and precautionary steps are simple out of question.  This year when the IMD has already declared the Rainfall deficit so far, I believe the focus should be moved onto this project immediately.  Until now there has been 15% less rainfall as compared to last few years. Rainfall harvesting in the city is next to impossible, whereas this is implemented across all European countries for saving the rainwater, which is then used for irrigation and other agricultural purposes. In India when majority of agriculture, a regular water needs depends on Rainfall, rainfall water is not wisely used, hence any change in climate conditions, will then shift focus of using sea water for house hold purpose.

I suggest, this project should be put on Fast Track, as this will again take experimental time, approval, plant location, and infrastructure.