The Srikakulam district administration is keen on establishing a desalination project in Pydibhimavaram industrial zone to meet the water requirements of the local pharmaceutical industries.
Officials in the administration opine that the setting up of a desalination project would attract more investments in the industrial sector, which would give a boost to the development of the backward district.
Srikakulam Collector Shrikesh B. Lathkar sent a detailed report to the State Industries Department for necessary permissions and further approvals from the Union government as the desalination project has to be established in CRZ jurisdiction. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Lathkar said that the proposal might help industries in the future as almost all of them were completely dependent on groundwater for their requirements.
“Conversion of seawater into freshwater is being done successfully in certain States like Tamil Nadu. Taking a cue from them, we prepared a document regarding setting up of a desalination project. A 40 MLD project may be sufficient. Higher officials of the departments concerned, including Industries, have to take a decision after studying its feasibility as a huge investment is required for such a project,” said Mr. Lathkar.
The project, if established, would check groundwater pollution. Many pharmaceutical companies and other local industries have been releasing effluents directly into the sea despite agitations from the local fishing community.
In the summer, sufficient quantity of groundwater is not available in many areas of Pusapati Rega and Pydibhimavaram industrial zones. Such a desalination project would certainly help us get freshwater without any interruption although we need to pay for the utilisation of water,” said a senior executive of a pharmaceutical company.
