Jajpur: The industrial units operating in Kalinganagar here these days take less interest in using the water supplied by Idco from Brahmani river and they meet their need by illegally drawing the ground water by drilling bore wells on their factory premises, a report said.
Recently, several units, asking to reduce their quota, have applied to Idco for an amendment of agreement on use of water. This may be good news for river Brahmani, but it can give rise to acute water scarcity in future, feared the locals.
According to reports, most of the industries in the district don’t care about the restrictions imposed by the government over use of groundwater. For instance, Mesco Steel of Kalinganagar had signed an agreement with Idco to use 300 cusec of Brahmani river water. However, the company has now requested to reduce the amount to 130 cusec. This indicates that the company has managed to get water from other sources. On the other hand, Mesco Steel plant which remained closed since last September would start its production soon, said an official. It is alleged that the company intends to use the water of bore well which it has dug on its premises to save water tax.
The mindless use of bore well water has reduced the level of ground water resulting in drying up of wells and tube wells during summer season. Neither the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department nor Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) seems to be concerned over the issue.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Maithan Ispat Limited, a company managed by Mesco, is yet to pay the water tax to the tune of Rs 34.26 lakh. This apart, Tata Steel and Visa Steel, two other plants of Kalinganagar have not paid water tax of Rs 83.64 lakh and Rs 44.01 lakh respectively. Visa also applied to reduce its quota of water from 450 cusec to 375 cusec last month.
Earlier, some other companies had also adopted similar method to save water tax.
When contacted, RWSS executive engineer Amiya Kumar Parija said the issue of excess use of ground water has been raised with the government. The situation may go out of hand if OSPCB doesn’t take any measure, he added.
General manager AK Patnaik of Maithan Ispat said he would speak to the concerned officer of Idco. PNN