Jitendra Singh reviews NIOT's LTTD plants and India's first OTEC-powered desalination plant in Lakshadweep
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed NIOT's ocean-based desalination projects at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, on 7 March 2026, including LTTD plants on eight islands and an upcoming OTEC-powered desalination plant.
Summary
Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed ocean technology projects of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, on 7 March 2026. Officials said Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plants set up by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through NIOT are running on eight islands of Lakshadweep, which has limited groundwater and depends on seasonal rain. LTTD turns seawater into drinking water using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep-sea water drawn from about 350â400 metres. The Minister also reviewed the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant being built at Kavaratti, described as India's first; it needs a 3.8-km HDPE pipe reaching beyond 1,000 m depth, of which about 250 m has been assembled.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 7 March 2026, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep
- Agency
- NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences
- LTTD
- Running on 8 islands; cold water from ~350â400 m
- OTEC plant
- India's first OTEC-powered desalination plant, under construction at Kavaratti
- Pipeline
- 3.8-km HDPE pipe to beyond 1,000 m depth; ~250 m assembled
Practice MCQs 3 questions
India's first Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant, reviewed on 7 March 2026, is being built at which place?
Show answer
Correct answer: A â Kavaratti
The OTEC-powered desalination plant is being developed by NIOT at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep.
On how many islands of Lakshadweep are NIOT's Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plants operational?
Show answer
Correct answer: B â Eight
Officials told the Minister that LTTD plants are operational across eight islands.
Consider the following statements about Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) in Lakshadweep: 1. It uses the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep-sea water drawn from about 350â400 metres. 2. It requires an external fuel-fired boiler to heat the seawater. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A â 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: LTTD relies on the natural temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water, not on fuel-fired heating.