In May 2019, The Times of India reported that Chennai's water utility Metrowater was planning five small desalination plants of about 1,000 m³/day each. The units planned for Thiruvanmiyur, Kasimedu, Thiruvottiyur, Triplicane and MRC Nagar were to cost Rs 120 crore and start within six months. Each was meant to serve at least 100,000 people in districts whose groundwater had run dry. Because of drought, the city was then supplying only 500 instead of 830 million litres a day.
The report showed Chennai turning to small, decentralised desalination to supply dried-out districts quickly during an acute shortage. An expert quoted in the article saw such plants only as a stopgap.
Source: The Times of India