They are located at Kavaratti, Minicoy and Agatti in Lakshadweep and at the Northern Chennai Thermal Power Station in Chennai. Each plant has a capacity to produce one lakh litres of potable water every day.

The Minister for Earth Sciences, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, said in the Lok Sabha today that Indian scientists have achieved remarkable success in converting sea water into drinking water. Under a pilot project of the Earth Sciences Ministry, they have developed the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination technology to convert seawater into potable water.  This indigenous and environment- friendly technology is suitable for island territories and coastal areas. So far, four plants have been commissioned in the country.

They are located at Kavaratti, Minicoy and Agatti in Lakshadweep and at the Northern Chennai Thermal Power Station in Chennai. Each plant has a capacity to produce one lakh litres of potable water every day.  He said six more plants are to be installed in Lakshadweep. They will be located at Amini, Chetlet, Kadamath, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Andrott islands of the Union Territory.  The Minister said the operational cost of producing one litre of drinking water from the saline water is 19 paise. Efforts to reduce the production cost are going on.

He said the quantum of fresh water, equivalent to the bottled quality, produced in the last three years in the Lakshadweep islands is over 14 crore litres.