Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has directed the joint director of industries to quantify the demand of water for industrial use in the next 20 years and prepare a report on it.
Speaking at a preliminary meeting on Wednesday with industry representatives to discuss the setting up of a desalination unit in Mangaluru, he appointed Gokuldas Nayak, Joint Director of Industries, as the nodal officer to work out the modalities for the setting up of such desalination units for the benefit of industries from the region. He also said that, after looking into the requirement of water, the capacity of the unit and the estimated cost of the unit can be worked out.
The deputy commissioner said, “Up to 160 MLD (million litres per day) is pumped from Thumbe dam, but only 100 to 110 MLD water is available for use. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and MSEZ should take a lead for the setting up of the desalination unit. NITK-Surathkal should provide technical input. Acute water scarcity has forced Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (MCF) to shutdown its urea-manufacturing unit, while MRPL has partially shutdown its operations in the region.”
Stating that MCF has shown interest in setting up the desalination unit, Ibrahim said the closure of the urea-manufacturing unit will have impact on the supply of urea during the monsoon. The industries in Mangaluru and surrounding areas facing severe shortage of water, he reminded.
Earlier, making a presentation on desalination unit, Sridhar of Ion Exchange said that the operation cost of water would be Rs 40 for 1,000 litre of desalinated water. “The technology of the desalination unit has improved since the first unit was set up at Gujarat in 1996. There is no effluent from the unit. The plant can be executed within 18 to 24 months after getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests,” he explained.
“A desalination process essentially separates saline water into two parts – one that has a low concentration of salt and the other with much higher concentration than the original feed water. Gulf countries have already such major potable-water plants using the desalination technology to solve water scarcity problem,” he added.
Prabhakar Rao, MCF director, said that, with the technology developed by the Ion Exchange, there is zero liquid discharge in MCF. “All the waste water is treated at the plant. The MCF has faced acute water shortage this year for the first time since its inception. A 2-MGD capacity desalination plant would cost Rs 95 crore to 100 crore. The plant requires 4 unit of power for treating per kilolitre water,” he said and added, “We need to work out a business model for the setting up unit by creating a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the maintenance of the unit.”
Rao also said that about 10 acre land would be required for the setting up of a 20-MLD desalination unit. Water from the backwaters can be used for the desalination unit during rainy season as well.
Published 25 May 2016, 18:39 IST