Floods close country's pioneer textile processing cluster
Surat: The Pandesara GIDC estate, one of Gujarat ’s oldest industrial estates and among the earliest hubs of textile processing in India, witnessed an unprecedented shutdown of its textile processing units , the first such closure in its 51-year history.
Established around 1975, the Pandesara GIDC estate grew into a major textile processing cluster and houses 129 textile processing units. All these units have been closed since July 7, after floodwaters entered factory premises due to overflowing drainage lines and the swelling of the Bhedwad creek .
What began as a flood-triggered stoppage escalated into a wider operational crisis when the common effluent treatment plant (CETP), critical for processing, suffered major damage.
“For the first time in history, the entire Pandesara GIDC estate was closed; such a situation has never arisen. We never thought of such a situation,” said Jitendra Vakhariya, president of the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA).
Industry representatives said the CETP suffered damage, affecting not only core treatment operations but also essential infrastructure. “Furniture, computers and machinery suffered major damage in the floods . We are the oldest GIDC estate and we have never seen such a situation. We have been forced to close due to floods for the first time,” said Kamalvijay Tulsian, president of the Pandesara Industrial Association.
After repairs, cleaning and restoration, the CETP resumed functioning. However, processing units still cannot restart because the Surat Municipal Corporation is unable to supply the treated water required. It is unclear when regular water supply will be restored.
“First due to flooding and now due to unavailability of water, we can’t start our units. We hope water supply is restored soon,” an industry representative said.
Established around 1975, the Pandesara GIDC estate grew into a major textile processing cluster and houses 129 textile processing units. All these units have been closed since July 7, after floodwaters entered factory premises due to overflowing drainage lines and the swelling of the Bhedwad creek .
What began as a flood-triggered stoppage escalated into a wider operational crisis when the common effluent treatment plant (CETP), critical for processing, suffered major damage.
“For the first time in history, the entire Pandesara GIDC estate was closed; such a situation has never arisen. We never thought of such a situation,” said Jitendra Vakhariya, president of the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA).
Industry representatives said the CETP suffered damage, affecting not only core treatment operations but also essential infrastructure. “Furniture, computers and machinery suffered major damage in the floods . We are the oldest GIDC estate and we have never seen such a situation. We have been forced to close due to floods for the first time,” said Kamalvijay Tulsian, president of the Pandesara Industrial Association.
After repairs, cleaning and restoration, the CETP resumed functioning. However, processing units still cannot restart because the Surat Municipal Corporation is unable to supply the treated water required. It is unclear when regular water supply will be restored.
“First due to flooding and now due to unavailability of water, we can’t start our units. We hope water supply is restored soon,” an industry representative said.
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