Water shortage could delay about 20 proposed industrial projects in Chandrapur, warns MIDC industries body

Chandrapur: Industrial operations across Vidarbha could be hit by a water shortage from December, and the launch of around 20 proposed projects in Chandrapur district could be pushed back, the Chandrapur MIDC Industries Association has warned. It has called for urgent coordination between industry and the district administrations to limit the damage, The Times of India reported.

Association president Madhusudan Roongta said the district's major industries draw their water from the Wardha river, so any cut in industrial supply would hurt them directly, putting both current production and planned investment at risk. He suggested review meetings every fortnight to check how much water is available, track consumption and share it fairly.

Roongta urged industries to speed up rainwater harvesting, recycling of wastewater and the development of other water sources, while stressing that drinking water and the needs of livestock must come before industrial use. He also suggested tapping the large volumes of water stored in Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) mines as an alternative source.

The rain deficit could hurt farming as well, he warned, with soybean, tur, gram and cotton, and the rabi season, all at risk; lower farm output could push up food prices. Immediate planning and coordinated water saving were needed to protect Vidarbha's industrial growth, he said.

Source: The Times of India