In July 2019, The Times of India reported on a debate in the Gujarat assembly. Leader of the opposition Paresh Dhanani pointed to eight approved coastal seawater desalination plants that private companies were to build for Rs 700 crore each. Against combined construction costs of Rs 5,600 crore, he set water payments by the state over 25 years, which he put at Rs 59,247.84 crore. He urged the government to build the plants itself instead of granting firms power, land and tax relief.
The report showed that the dispute in Gujarat in 2019 was less about desalination itself than about the model: long-term offtake deals with private firms or public ownership of the plants.
Source: The Times of India