The 150-year-old industry of Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) pipes made with clay is in trouble in Telangana. The state government has stopped buying these eco-friendly pipes used for drainage and sewerage projects. The industry fears that if the government doesn’t help soon, all the existing units may have to close within a few months.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), a major buyer of the pipes, hasn’t called for tenders to purchase them in the last 18 months. The bills for previous purchases also remain unpaid. Another important client, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), has also stopped buying these pipes for local projects.
The Telangana SWG Pipes Manufacturing Association President, P Vara Prasad Rao, mentioned that 36 Small Scale Industry (SSI) units are struggling because government bodies now prefer plastic pipes over clay SWG pipes for laying sewerage pipelines. The association has requested the government to resume purchasing these pipes for public projects in local areas without asking for any subsidies, only seeking to ensure the survival of the industry.
Telangana has the largest pipe manufacturing industry in the country, with a long history dating back to the Nizam rule. The old drainage system in Hyderabad, built with clay pipes, still stands strong after more than 150 years. SWG pipes are durable, resistant to corrosion, and environmentally friendly compared to plastic pipes.
The closure of the SWG pipe industry would impact around 5,000 workers directly, with units located in Mancherial, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts. Thousands of jobs for rural residents would be at risk. Additionally, clay pipes are cheaper than plastic ones and pose less harm to the environment.
