Against the backdrop of severe drought plaguing the state, the Maharashtra government mulls bringing a law which will make it mandatory for industries to use recycled water.

In its measures to mitigate the acute water crisis, Industries Minister Subhash Desai said he has instructed authorities concerned at the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) to study the feasibility of raising the height of dams, desilting and deepening of lakes under its jurisdiction as part of its watershed management plan.

“We are mulling to initiate long-term measures like increasing the height of MIDC dams and making recycled water mandatory for industries by amending the MIDC Act, 1961,” Desai told PTI.

“The industry department will also undertake a project under which the height of dams will be raised and lakes, water canals will be deepened to preserve drinking water in future,” he said.

Commenting on the grave water scarcity conditions in the State, specially in Marathwada, the minister said there are as many as 62 cooperative and private sugar mills in Marathwada region; besides, there are liquor distilleries in Aurangabad district.

“There are more sugar mills and distilleries in Marathwada that guzzle up more water in a region which is known to face acute water scarcity. In order to produce 1 kg of sugar, apart from sugarcane, you require 2,500 litres of water.

“When you consider lakhs of tonnes of sugar produced by these sugar mills and the lakh tonnes of produce that is exported...you are actually exporting that much lakh litres of water,” Desai said.

He, however, said though drinking water is of utmost importance, industries too are vital as they generate employment for lakhs of people.

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