Industries in Ahmedabad to get treated wastewater

AHMEDABAD: The rapid depletion of groundwater reserves of Ahmedabad has made the state urban development department consider supplying treated recycled wastewater to industries.
The AMC has suggested that industries buy treated water from it at the rate of Rs 43 per kilolitre for industrial purposes. The proposal is in line with the guidelines issued by the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation, a technical wing of the Union ministry of urban development. The Surat Municipal Corporation has already implemented the measure at the same price.
Currently, close to 4,000 industrial units in GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation) clusters in Odhav, Naroda, Narol, and Vatva draw groundwater from their own borewells. They incur a cost of Rs 17 per kilolitre — Rs 8 for pumping and an additional Rs 9 for water treatment. Buying treated water from the AMC will mean a 153% rise in the water input costs for the GIDC-based units.
Factories which lie within the AMC limits but outside the GIDC clusters pay Rs 30 per kilolitre, which covers power and treatment costs. These units will see a 43% rise in water costs. The nearby Sanand GIDC industrial cluster, falling outside the AMC limits, pays Rs 40 per kilolitre for treated groundwater. If the units here buy treated water from the AMC, they can expect a 5% rise in water expenses.
“An increase of 40% in water costs will definitely impact industries as their cost of production will rise,” said Pathik Patwari, senior vice-president, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). “This is especially true for textile and chemical manufacturing units which require high volumes of water.”
Right now the AMC spends Rs 24 to Rs 25 per kilolitre on the treatment of sewage water and an additional Rs 8 on operation, maintenance, and workforce. Moreover, Rs 9 per kilolitre is spent on overheads.
“Our draft note mentions that right now GIDC clusters within the AMC limits as well as residential and commercial buildings draw groundwater from within their property compounds,” said a senior AMC official. “They do it as a matter of right as per Section 7(b) of the Easements Act of 1882.”
The official added: “This right is in place till the government declares a particular stretch or area as groundwater-exploited ‘dark zone’.”
If the whole of Ahmedabad city or a part of it is declared a dark zone, industrial and residential clusters that have access to AMC water supply will have to mandatorily stop drawing groundwater.
Sanand Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, houses about 350 units. “The state irrigation department supplies Narmada water at Rs 36 per kilolitre to units in Sanand, which increases at the rate of 10% every year,” said Ajit Shah, president, Sanand Industries Association. “This means, with effect from April 1, 2022, industrial units may end up paying nearly Rs 40 per kilolitre for water. Water consumption in Sanand Industrial Estate is around 10 MLD (million litres per day).”