Chief Minister Vijay visits desalination plants at Nemmeli

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday inspected the desalination plants at Nemmeli with capacities of 110 million litres per day (MLD) and 150 MLD, besides reviewing the progress of the 400 MLD desalination plant being constructed at Perur at an estimated cost of ₹5,814.57 crore.

During the visit, the Chief Minister drank water produced at the Nemmeli desalination plants to underscore its quality and safety.

He inspected various components of the facilities, including the intake structure, lamella clarifier, reverse osmosis permeate tank, neutralisation pit, product water tank, clear water reservoir, sludge thickener, administrative building, warehouse, limestone filter, reverse osmosis building, reverse osmosis feed tank, dissolved air flotation unit, gravity dual media filter, chemical building, electrical building, and the workshop under construction.

An official release said, Mr. Vijay directed officials to ensure proper maintenance of the Nemmeli desalination plants so that drinking water is supplied to the public without interruption. He also instructed them to expedite the construction of the Perur desalination project.

DMK threatens protest

Former DMK Minister T.M. Anbarasan on Monday warned the party would launch a protest if the State government fails to restore the plaque at the Nemmeli desalination plant bearing the name of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Anbarasan alleged that the plaque had been covered with a cloth ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit to the plant. “When we asked the officials, they told the plaque had been damaged and would be restored within a week. If it is not restored, the DMK will stage a protest,” he said.

Mr. Anbarasan alleged that since the TVK came to power, the government had been attempting to erase or suppress the achievements and welfare initiatives of the previous DMK regime. He said such actions were condemnable.