Water cut to hit production in Dahej PCPIR

Surat/Bharuch: In a repeat of previous years’ situation, industries in Dahej Petroleum and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in Vagra taluka of Bharuch are reeling under serious water crisis due to seawater gushing into the Narmada river bed due to high tide since Wednesday.
The industrial units have been intimated about 25% water cut for the next few days as all the pumping stations located at Nandh and Mangleshwar on the river bank have been closed due to a high salinity level in the water.

Industry associations of Dahej and Vilayat have expressed concern over the water shortage as it hamper their production. The saline water due to seawater is not at all usable for the industries. The industries have been demanding release of more water from Sardar Sarovar dam so that seawater ingress is neutralized.

“The associations have also suggested laying pipeline up to Garudeshwar where a new barrage has been constructed to get continuous supply of water,” said Ashu Pareek, president, Vilayat GIDC Industries Association.

The water crisis in the beginning of winter season has rattled the industrious, who feel the situation will be even worse in the summer.

Water is one of the major raw material for industries, especially chemicals.

“All the present and future investment is heavily dependent on the state government’s promise of continuous water supply, but there is no concrete action plan yet to tackle the the present situation,” said M A Hania, president, Dahej Industries Association. The proposed desalination plant with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore is in the project report stage and it will take around two years to become operational, said Hania.

Dahej and Vilayat industries require around 50 million gallons water per day and Narmada is the biggest source.