In June 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House), citing the Hindustan Times, reported that Harsh Vardhan, India's earth sciences minister, intended to draw up a desalination mission covering the whole country. He had consulted scientists at the government body Niti Aayog on the idea. Tamil Nadu was suffering its most severe drought in 140 years, and four reservoirs close to Chennai had dried up. On 23 June 2017 the state government presented plans for a textile industrial park with its own desalination plant, still pending central government approval.
The report showed desalination moving onto India's national agenda under the pressure of a severe drought, though at that point only as an intention without capacities, sites or costs.