Surat: Forest and environment minister Arjun Modhwadia on Saturday urged industries in the city to adopt sustainable development practices, warning that businesses could face serious disruption if pollution control and water-recycling systems are not implemented in time.Addressing industrial representatives, Modhwadia said environmental non-compliance is increasingly leading to strict action, citing examples from Rajasthan’s Balotra and Rajkot where textile units were ordered to shut down for polluting water sources. He noted that in Rajkot, several units were later able to resume operations only after establishing water recycling and reuse mechanisms, indicating that technology-driven compliance is becoming unavoidable for industrial continuity.Modhwadia also raised concerns about heavy dependence on groundwater in industrial areas, saying extraction is taking place on a large scale and that the current trajectory is not sustainable. “Textile and chemicals are the main industries using natural resources. It will not work for long if we do not care for environment,” he said.Modhwadia sounded an alert if groundwater withdrawal continues unchecked. He said that while recharge activities are being carried out across the country, the impact will remain limited if industries keep drawing “a huge quantity” of groundwater.He pointed to upcoming regulatory changes, saying Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shared draft rules that aim to increase water recycling significantly. “By 2030, we will have to recycle 70% water,” he said, adding that recycled water is likely to become cheaper over time as desalination and related technologies become more affordable and deliver additional benefits.He urged industries to act proactively rather than wait for enforcement. “If we start early we will be at advantage, otherwise we will be forced to do. Instead of being forced we should start now,” he said.
