The Water Resources minister stated that the department (WRD) is pondering over the feasibility of a desalination plant (DP) in Panaji. Engineers would be visiting Lakshadweep Islands and Chennai to study the DPs. He mentioned that several Arab countries have DPs. Perhaps a hint that officers may visit these places too!
The DPs use Seawater Reverse Osmosis and Multi-stage Flash technologies and consume immense energy, especially the former method. These processes require high pressure or high temperatures to remove salt and impurities from seawater and their safe disposal. Low-temperature thermal desalination converts seawater into freshwater using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep-sea water. This eco-friendly method is ideal for islands as in Lakshadweep Islands. Installation of DPs costing crores of rupees are justified if these cater to a large population or if a place has consistently scarce rains.
Goa receives copious rains but most of the water flows into the rivers. Instead of DPs, rain-water harvesting needs to be encouraged and mandated for gated complex, resorts, hotels and corporate and govt office buildings. The WRD, Drinking Water Department and PWD could united to replace and repair old pipelines, stop leakages (from pipelines and illegal water tapping) and encourage water conservation and usage. Let casino owners collaborate and build DPs because they need thousands of litres of water which are presently supplied through tankers that tap the depleting groundwater. They could sell the desalinated water to villas that have private swimming pools which use PWD and tanker waters. Govt should not thrust white elephants in the form of DPs not beneficial to the people. If DPs are set-up, will the water get diverted to casinos and other private entities?
