Around 125 textile processing units in Pandesara GIDC area in Surat are focused to run day shift only and shut down their units during night due to water shortage problem faced by the units. With only one shift running, the textile industry will now face a loss of crores of rupees, according to the Southern Gujarat Textile Processing Association (SGTPA).

The BJP municipal corporator of Varachha, Bhimji Patel has recently identified that there is an illegal water supply network run by mafias in Pandesara area in Surat.

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials said that they have found that many textile processing units in Pandesara GIDC area are making use of the illegal water supply network and private water supply through water tankers. The tertiary treatment plant is undergoing repair work as it has incurred some problems, as a result of which the supply of water through the plant has been reduced.

Sources said that the Pandesara industry gets 60 Million Liters per Day (MLD) water regularly, against a required 100 MLD.

But according to SGTPA president Jitu Vakharia, the textile industry has been facing shortage of water for a long time as the water supplied through tertiary treatment plant is not sufficient. This was one of the reasons, the textile unit owners started to look for other means of water supply (private players) which adds to their cost of production. The water from the tertiary treatment plant is affordable in comparison to private water supply network.