Pune: Industrial clusters outside MIDC areas are increasingly facing water shortages, mirroring the supply constraints in municipal regions. These units are generally smaller in scale, with limited workforce and rely heavily on alternative sources like borewells and private water tankers, industry representatives said.“Most of these are small units that depend on non-drinking water tankers to meet their needs. The clusters largely comprise engineering and manufacturing units, which typically require minimal water for operations,” Sandip Belsare, president of the Small Industries Association, Pimpri Chinchwad, said.For drinking purposes, small manufacturers purchase 20-litre water cans, while tanker water is primarily used by workers to freshen up after working in high temperatures. Certain engineering processes also require water, including cooling systems, painting and surface treatment.HP Srivastava, chairman of the Deccan Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (DCCIA), said, “Manufacturing units in areas like Nagar Road and Wagholi largely depend on borewells. Industries sourcing water from municipal supplies are bound to face shortages, given the existing water stress in the residential and agricultural sectors.”Srivastava said sectors involving boilers tend to have higher water requirements. In such cases, the water must also undergo treatment to prevent rust and corrosion, necessitating a cleaner supply, he added.At present, industrial units within MIDC regions like Pimpri Chinchwad, Bhosari, Ranjangaon and Hinjewadi continue to receive water. With the water crisis intensifying, industry representatives have raised concerns about future supply. “This is typically a lean period for MSMEs, with order inflows picking up from Sept. The monsoon is expected to resume by then, which should help restore normalcy. The industry has also dealt with weak monsoons in the past and is equipped to manage such situations,” Ravindra Sonawane, founding member of Laghu Udyog Bharati, said.
