The Odisha government has signed an agreement to establish a seawater desalination plant at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, marking the state's first project of its kind under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The proposed project will involve an estimated investment of around Rs 1,000 crore and is aimed at meeting the growing industrial water demand in the region, an official said.
The agreement was signed by the state-owned Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the state's PPP Cell during the 66th meeting of the Empowered Committee on Infrastructure for PPP Projects.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
The proposed desalination facility will have a capacity of 100 million litres per day (MLD) and will be developed at Gopalpur Industrial Park. It will convert seawater into usable water to cater to the requirements of industries operating in the region.
The project is expected to strengthen industrial infrastructure in Ganjam district and support the expansion of industrial activities by ensuring a sustainable source of water.
The initiative also marks a significant step towards promoting alternative water sources and encouraging private-sector participation in Odisha's infrastructure development.
