The allocation of Rs.300 crore announced in the Union budget towards the setting up of a desalination plant in Nemmeli is about one-third of the total project cost of nearly Rs.995 crore. Presenting the budget on Friday, Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram said the amount would be allocated for the facility, which is to be set up under public-private partnership . A senior government official said the State government sent a detailed project report, prepared by Mecon Limited a month ago, seeking full grant for the project. It is awaiting further details about the allocation from the Centre. The 100-million-litre-a-day capacity desalination plant is to be set up on a 40-acre site, located about 35 km south of Chennai. According to the report, nearly 270 mld of seawater would be drawn to generate 100 mld of drinking water. The remaining quantum of 165 mld of water with high-salinity level would be discharged into the sea. Once the fund from the Centre was obtained, the tendering process would take six months to be completed. The execution period of the project is about two years. A Metrowater official said the plant in Nemmeli would cater to the requirements of the southern parts of the city. The treated water would be conveyed to water distribution stations in Velachery, Pallipattu and Thiruvanmiyur. It would also meet the needs of the areas on the IT corridor and an underground sump is being constructed at Kelambakkam for the purpose. Villages along the IT corridor such as Semmencheri and Karapakkam would be also provided the supply.