Rs 13.10 Bn Desalination Plant Cleared for Kakinada SEZ

15 Jul 2025 CW Team

Kakinada SEZ Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Auro Infra Realty and Infrastructure, is set to construct a 3x50 MLD desalination plant in Kona Village, Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh, with a total investment of Rs 13.10 billion. The project received a positive recommendation for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Forests, Government of India, during a meeting held on 26 June.

The planned desalination plant will significantly strengthen water supply infrastructure for industrial and port operations in the region. According to the EAC meeting minutes, the facility will include two seawater intake pipelines with a combined capacity of 380 MLD, which will channel raw seawater to the treatment facility. Once desalinated, the product water will be distributed to industries and the nearby port via dedicated pipelines, facilitating uninterrupted water supply for critical operations.

Additionally, an outfall pipeline will be constructed to release approximately 230 MLD of brine reject water back into the sea in an environmentally regulated manner. This discharge will comply with CRZ norms to minimise the ecological footprint. The CRZ clearance is subject to specific conditions regarding environmental safeguards, water quality monitoring, marine biodiversity protection, and public consultation compliance.

This project forms part of a broader initiative to address freshwater scarcity in the coastal industrial belt and is expected to serve as a benchmark for similar infrastructure developments in India. The desalination plant will not only support ongoing industrialisation in the region but also enhance water security amid changing climate and rainfall patterns.

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