The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Earth Sciences has indigenously designed developed and demonstrated the desalination technology for conversion of sea water into potable water based on Low Temperature Thermal Desalination System (LTTD).  One LTTD plant with a capacity of 1lakh liter per day production of fresh water was developed and installed in May 2005, at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep Island.


The plant has been effectively working since then and catering significantly to the needs of the population of Kavaratti.  The LakshadweepIslands have the advantage of   ocean depth (~500 m) available within few hundred meters from the coast and hence, such plants are possible.  Another LTTD Plant of 1 lakh litre per day capacity was also established at Northern Chennai Thermal Power Station, Chennai in March 2009, which uses the waste heat discharge from the power plant. NIOT has also demonstrated an offshore barge mounted 10-lakh liter per day capacity plant about 40kms off Chennai in April 2007, as a part of scaling up plants for the coastal region of India.

NIOT is in the process of setting of 3 more plants in the Islands of Lakshawdeepas detailed below:

Location/Place Schedule date of completion Number of plants
Agatti, March, 2010 One
Minicoy December,  2010 One
Andhroth March,  2011 One
Power Plants andIslands Design completion by March,  2012 5 each

A scheme is also being formulated for similar desalination plants in the coastal areas including at the coastal power plants with industry participation.

This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State (I/C) forScience and Technology and Earth Sciences in the Lok  Sabha