The Cochin Port Trust has invited expression of interest (EOI) from private companies to set up a desalination plant and a water supply facility on Willingdon Island on a revenue-sharing basis over the next 15 years.
The port trust faces an acute shortage of water with the Kerala Water Authority being able to supply only 2,000 tonnes.
The authority has, however, promised to augment the supply to 32,000 tonnes by March 2013 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
However, the port is severely constrained by the current shortage that is hampering services to both domestic and commercial sectors and supplies to ships calling at the port.
The shortfall in domestic supply is estimated to be 500 kilolitres a day. The requirement for ships calling at the port is around 400 kilolitres a day and the requirement by commercial establishments is around 150 kilolitres a day.
The port authority estimates that the requirement of water will go up to 2,500 kilolitres for the commercial sector and 4,000 kilolitres for ship supplies over the next five years.
The trust has notified the rates for supplies to various categories of consumers.
The company chosen to develop the facility will be provided land for setting up the desalination plant, overhead tanks at notified lease rates and permission to lay the pipelines.
The trust has drawn up plans to turn Kochi into a major bunkering destination, and plans to offer concessions to vessels that come to the port on bunkers-only calls.
