Kakinada SEZ Powers Up with ₹1,310 Cr Desalination Plant

Kakinada SEZ, a wholly owned subsidiary of Auro Infra Realty and Infrastructure, is set to establish a ₹1,310 crore desalination plant at Kona Village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district.

The proposed facility, with a total capacity of 150 million litres per day (3x50 MLD), is designed to supply treated seawater to industries and the adjacent port, aiming to reduce reliance on freshwater and groundwater resources. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the project, subject to several environmental safeguards.

The plant will intake 380 MLD of seawater through two pipelines and discharge 230 MLD of brine via an outfall pipeline. As part of environmental mitigation measures, the EAC has directed Kakinada SEZ to support the development of a prototype system for brine reuse, aiming to minimize marine pollution. Additionally, the company will allocate ₹10 crore for environmental protection, monitoring, and mitigation activities.

Developed as part of the Kakinada Special Economic Zone, the project will be subject to reappraisal if there are any changes in scope, as per EAC guidelines.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.