Jajpur: Several industrial units in Kalinganagar industrial area here conveniently forget to pay water tax after utilising the groundwater as well as water of river Brahmani leaving locals battle for every drop of water in summer, said a report.
As many as six industrial units here owe over Rs 3 crore towards water tax to the government by June 19 with Dinabandhu Steel and Power Limited leading the group with Rs 95.81 lakh, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco’s) divisional head Gourishankar Mishra, in a letter to the director of the company, warned of snapping water supply permanently and initiating legal action unless it cleared the outstanding payment immediately.
According to reports, the firm entered into an agreement with Idco in September 2016 to take 50 cft of water per hour and clear payment in monthly installments.
However, the company failed to live up to its commitment despite repeated reminders. In the meantime, the company, showing its financial insolvency, requested Idco to adjust its dues with the security deposits which was lying with Idco.
The company paid just Rs 19 lakh as security deposit to Idco while it had an outstanding amount of Rs 1.14 crore to clear towards water tax.
Therefore, it has to pay another Rs 95.91 lakh after adjustment of the security deposits. In the wake of such huge dues, Idco had disconnected water supply to the plant from January 1, 2017 and recently sent an ultimatum to the company of permanent disconnection.
Despite the disconnection of water supply, it is surprising as to how the company manages its production, said locals, demanding a probe.
According to a weekly report released by Idco, other companies that owe payments to the government include – Rohit Ferrotech (Rs 29.91 lakh), Tata Steel (Rs 87 lakh), Maithan Ispat Limited (Rs 51.81 lakh), Visa Steel (Rs 35.24 lakh) and Mesco Steel (Rs 7.29 lakh).
Several companies were also found to have violated the norms of the government regarding the use of groundwater resulting in receding groundwater level. Because of rampant drawing of water by the industries, tube wells and wells in rural and urban areas of the district become defunct, a report said.
On the other hand, it is becoming difficult for the authorities concerned to know the exact quantity of water used by the companies as some of them, especially in Danagadi and Sukinda blocks of the district, have not installed flow meters on their premises. Earlier, people used to get water after digging about 50 ft which has gone down to 300 feet due to mindless drawing of water by the industries, alleged locals. PNN