JICA signs loan assistance for setting up desalination plant

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Centre for setting up of a Chennai Seawater Desalination Plant at an Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Rs 1,800 crore.

The ODA loan agreement was signed between Ambassador of India to Japan, Sujan R Chinoy and JICA Senior Vice President, Junichi Yamada at the House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, a press release said.

JICA signed agreement with Government of India to provide official development assistance loan of 30,000 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 1,800 crore) for the construction of Chennai Seawater Desalination Plant.

The objective of the project is to provide safe and reliable water supply by seawater desalination plant with a capacity of 400 million litres per day and its related water supply facilities in the Chennai Metropolitan Areas.

"We are happy to announce that it would be the first case for JICA in India to support the construction of seawater desalination plant to overcome the water scarcity issue in Chennai" JICA India Office, Chief Representative, Takema Sakamoto said in the press release.

"The project will also enhance the economic growth and investment climate in the area. While JICA has been collaborating with Japanese firm Totetsu Manufacturing Company on a trial basis to explore the possibility of rainwater storage system, we remain committed to search for other complementary means...", he said.

Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) is the executing agency of the project.

The JICA assisted project would address water shortage in city by bridging demand and supply. The project would contribute to secure safe water supply by utilising seawater as a source, it added.