In April 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported, citing Business Standard, that India's Ministry of Shipping had told the east coast ports of Paradip, Kamarajar and Chidambarnar to set up containerised desalination plants. Minister Gadkari, responsible for shipping and water, ordered the reverse osmosis units of around 13,000 m³/day at a meeting with port chairmen. The water was to serve the ports and linked industries and also supply drinking water to surrounding areas.
The report showed that India intended to use ports as sites for quickly deployed desalination that would support drinking water supply in the hinterland as well as port operations.