Gujarat exceeds Narmada water allocation for industries

At a time when Gujarat is introducing policies and taking steps to attract more industries under the 'Make in India' initiative, water management for the sector is set to be major challenge moving forward. Apparently, the state has exceeded allocation of Narmada water for industries, said Arvind Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines Department, Government of Gujarat.
 
 
Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) seminar here on Friday on the 'Make in India' campaign,  Mr. Agarwal said, "It is legally difficult to draw more water from Narmada for industries as Gujarat is a water deficit state. The water management is going to be the next big issue for the state industry sector, as they will have to pay more for water."
 
 
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the seminar,  Mr. Agarwal said that as against an allocation of 0.20 million acre feet of Narmada water for industries, the state had already been using 0.25 million acre feet.
 
 
"So far as against the 0.2 million acre feet allocation, we have already exceeded to 0.25 million acre feet. Something will have to be done. Options of either getting non-Narmada water or other ways will have to be thought upon. Probably we will go to the Government of India to increase the level of allocation," he added.
 
 
Talking about other constraints that Gujarat faces in successful implementation of the Make in India campaign, Mr. Agarwal said that land, water, environment and availability of skilled manpower will be crucial and major challenges. However, with regards to land, he said that the state's revenue department was likely to bring in a bill in the upcoming state assembly session that could ease land availability and procurement of the same for industries.
 
 
Meanwhile, Mr. Agarwal said that out of the 25 sectors identified under the Make in India campaign, while Gujarat was strong in 15 of them, the state government was taking policy measures and identifying five more sectors where Gujarat could potentially grow. The state already has specific policies such as industrial policy, electronics policy, IT policy , manufacturing policy, wind power policy, textile policy, power generation policy and solar power policy, among others.