Indore: Water supply to industries in the Indore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Pithampur is set to receive a significant boost with the commissioning of a new 3,300 kilolitre (KL) reservoir. Supplies from this reservoir are expected to commence in early May, aiming to meet the rising summer demand, particularly from pharmaceutical units.
Officials stated that the additional storage was developed to stabilise water supply during peak summer months when availability from sources such as the Sanjay reservoir and Karam dam remains limited. Currently, the shortfall is being managed through supply from the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA).
"Water supply from the 3,300 KL reservoir is expected to start in early May, which will help strengthen availability within the SEZ and meet higher summer demand, especially from pharma and other water-intensive units," said Himanshu Prajapati, Executive Director of Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) Indore.
Water demand across Pithampur and other industrial areas in the Indore region has increased by approximately 5 million litres per day (MLD), bringing the total requirement to nearly 55 MLD. MPIDC has a contract for about 60 MLD under the Narmada–Kshipra link project, of which around 18 MLD is supplied to the Pithampur industrial belt.
The Indore SEZ, a key export hub, houses 59 industries engaged in plastic packaging, jumbo bags, agro products, and pharmaceuticals. Around 22 units belong to the pharmaceutical sector, where water consumption typically rises during summer due to process requirements and higher production cycles.
Officials noted that the new reservoir will help improve supply reliability within the SEZ and reduce dependence on fluctuating sources during the peak demand period. This development comes as industrial activity in Pithampur continues to expand, including in areas such as the Mohana industrial belt and the Smart Industrial Township in Sector 7.
Pithampur, one of central India's largest industrial hubs with over 1,000 units, has been witnessing steady growth in baseline demand for utilities. The new reservoir is expected to support this growth by ensuring a more stable water supply during the critical summer months.
