The Niti Aayog is working on a proposal to set up a string of floating desalination plants in marine waters along the country’s over 7,500-km coastline, with a view to tide over the water crisis being faced in major urban centres of India.

Recently, several parts of the country, especially Chennai, faced severe water crisis, owing to poor storage in various reservoirs following deficit rainfall. “The Niti Aayog is working on linking desalination of sea waters with the Sagarmala project,” a top government official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Sagarmala aims to modernise ports in the country, so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute growth. “Recently, Chennai faced acute water crisis. Why can’t we put some desalination plants in India’s vast coastline and its marine waters and supply it to population centres through a network of pipelines,” the official said.

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