Berhampur: On Sunday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan officially launched Odisha's inaugural seawater desalination facility located in Ganjam district.
Situated in Matikhal near Chhatarpur, this plant utilizes reverse osmosis (RO) technology to transform seawater into potable water. The initiative is spearheaded by the Odisha Sands Complex (OSCOM), a division of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL).
The facility is expected to produce approximately 400,000 liters of freshwater daily, catering to the needs of around 7,000 residents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously introduced the project in March of the previous year during an event in Bhubaneswar.
Pradhan emphasized that the plant's operation will alleviate water scarcity issues faced by two coastal villages.
He noted, "The villagers have struggled with drinking water shortages due to high salinity levels in the groundwater."
The establishment of this 4.5 million liters per day (mld) plant required an investment of ₹135 crore, as stated by OSCOM chief CVR Murthy.
In addition to serving local villages, the water supply will also benefit OSCOM employees.
Murthy explained, "OSCOM will utilize 1.5 mld from the plant, while another 1.5 mld will be allocated to the villages. An additional 1.5 mld will be reserved for emergencies."
The desalination technology has been provided by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), with funding from the Centre's Atomic Energy Department.
Local authorities have constructed overhead tanks and installed pipelines to ensure water reaches every household.
Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy has urged IREL to consider establishing another desalination plant to extend services to more areas, including Chhatrapur town.
Currently, water is sourced from the Rushikulya river for OSCOM, Berhampur University, and Chhatrapur town.
During the peak summer months, these regions often experience significant water shortages due to reduced supply.
