Work on the 100 million litres a day desalination plant in Nemmeli, about 35 km south of Chennai, will begin on February 23.
Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin is scheduled to participate in the function.
Chennai Metrowater officials said the work order for the Rs.533-crore project was issued to VA Tech Wabag in December last year. The firm would construct the plant in consortium with IDE Technologies, Israel.
As per the contract, the construction of the plant, on the 40-acre site, should be completed by December 2011. A 66-km-long pipeline network from the plant to several areas, including Akkarai, Velachery and Thiruvanmiyur, would be laid by L&T at a cost of Rs.122 crore. The deadline for completing this work would be by August 2011. Chennai Metrowater has selected public sector undertaking Mecon Limited for management and supervision of the project till its completion.
Mecon would work with Switzerland-based firm Adecco. The construction of the plant and the pipelines are being funded by the Central government and Rs.300 crore has been released in the first phase.
