The ongoing water scarcity has once again disrupted the jeans manufacturing industry in Ballari, forcing more than 100 units to temporarily halt operations. The issue has persisted for over a month, leaving hundreds jobless.
Only a few units remain functional, relying heavily on costly tanker water. The washing units, which consume a large volume of water, have increased their rates by 30–40%, adding further financial stress. The rising cost of tanker water has only worsened the situation.
An industry owner noted that this year, summer began nearly 15 days early, escalating the water shortage sooner than usual.
Ballari, known as the jeans capital of India, is home to 732 jeans factories. These units depend entirely on 15 washing units to complete their production process. Due to the soaring costs and insufficient water supply, many unit owners have decided to shut down operations for the next four to five months.
“This situation has rendered a significant number of workers jobless,” a unit owner said. “We’ve approached the administration multiple times, but there has been no positive response.”
There is some hope pinned on the upcoming Apparel Park initiative by the Karnataka Government. Industry insiders believe that once operational, the facility may help solve the water crisis by securing a dedicated water supply line from the Tungabhadra dam.