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

Desai said, “he has instructed authorities concerned at Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) to study feasibility of raising the height of dams, desilting and deepening of lakes under its jurisdiction as part of its Watershed Management plan.”

Desai to PTI"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,"

"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.

Desai further said,"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 2500 litres of water. When you consider lakhs of tonnes of sugar produced by these sugar mills and the lakh metric tonnes of produce that is exported...you are actually exporting that much lakh litres of water,"

He, meanwhile, added saying that, “though drinking water is of utmost importance, industries too are vital as they generate employment for lakhs of people.”