IREL sets up desalination plant to provide clean drinking water from sea water
Bhubaneswar, Aug 10 (UNI) For the first time in Odisha, seawater will be converted into fresh water for public use.
The Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), using indigenous technology, has set up a Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant at Matikhal in Chhatrapur, Ganjam district. The plant will supply clean drinking water to nearby areas.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the facility today during his two-day visit to Ganjam.
He inspected the unit, tasted the purified water, and described the project as a significant step in addressing the district’s chronic drinking water problem.
“Ganjam, despite being a coastal district, faces acute water scarcity due to high salinity in groundwater and limited fresh water resources,” Pradhan said. “This initiative will provide a reliable source of drinking water and marks an important milestone in local water conservation.”
Pradhan lauded IREL, which has been working in the strategic rare earth sector for over four decades, for extending its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts to ensure access to safe drinking water in nearby villages, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable society.
Drawing a parallel with Israel’s large-scale desalination projects, he said the first phase will benefit residents of Matikhal and Aryapalli, with the cost of production at just 11 paise per litre.
Earlier, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had invested Rs 160 crore to develop technology for converting seawater into potable water.
IREL’s initiative marks the first application of such a plant in Odisha