With thermal power plants being the largest industrial users of water and exceedingly contributing to water-stress, Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has come out with a novel concept of using coolant water discharge from power plants to produce fresh water.

Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station will be the first in the country to have an in-house 2 MLD (million litres per day) desalination plant based on Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology.

This assumes significance as the Thoothukudi power plant is constantly accused of depleting the Tamirabarani water by drawing fresh water from the Srivaikuntam dam.

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