As projects come, this would take the prize for being the most absurd: A desalination plant to purify seawater for the landlocked desert state of Rajasthan to solve its water woes!

A total of 61 projects were proved under the now approved under the now scrapped Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for Rajasthan. Among them was one to set up a desalination plant in an area that comes to about 20km from the seashore.

The nearest seashore from Rajasthan (Jalore) is at least 300km away at Kori Creek in Arabian Sea.

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Officials, however, remain clueless about the project and expressed their ignorance."There is no seashore in or around the state and it's a known fact. I have never come across any such scheme or if it has been sanctioned or approved. It must be some mistake," said an official who oversee projects under AMRUT. ... "We have received funds to the tune of Rs 275 crore over the past three years from the Centre under JNNURM. Will have to check if the desalination plant has been included for financial support," said another official of the department.