Bhubaneswar: As many as 42 industrial units in the state are drawing 35,508 litres (1,254 cusecs) of water per second from Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Kolab, Nagavali and Indravati.
As the figures are based on government records, the actual consumption of these units may be exponentially high.
The average consumptive water requirement of coal-based plants with cooling towers is about 5-7 cubic metres of water per megawatt-hour.
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) draws 105 cusecs from Samal barrage for its power plant at Kanhia; 55.49 cusec from Brahmani river for Talcher plant and 55 cusec from Hirakud for Darlipali (Sambalpur) unit.
On similar lines, Bhusan Steel and Strips Ltd (now taken over by Tata Steel) draw 46 cusecs of water from Brahmani river and 45 cusecs from Hirakud to feed its plant near Dhenkanal and Sambalpur, respectively.
Similarly, the Central PSU IOCL draws 38.750 cusec water from the Mahanadi through Taladanda canal for its Paradip refinery.
As per the rate fixed for the financial year 2020-21, the state government is selling water to commercial units, drawing up to 5 cusecs of water, at a rate of Rs 9.52 per 1000 litres (a cubic metre). The rate fixed for establishments drawing above 5 cusecs of water is Rs 12.60 per 1000 litres.
A back-of-the-envelope-calculation estimates that the state government is earning `50 crore revenue per month (Rs 550 to 600 crore per year).
Many of the industrial houses do not pay water tax regularly. The total dues pending against various commercial establishments are estimated to be around `3,200 crore. Many of the industrial units have moved to court as a result of which the government is unable to collect the amount.
As per data provided by the Water Resources minister to Assembly, Bhusan Power and Steel Ltd is yet to pay water tax of Rs 71.41 crore while Rs 54.18 crore is pending against the Bhusan Steel and Strips Ltd. About Rs 100 crore dues is pending against Shyam Metalics and Energy Ltd, Rengali while Arati Steel Ltd has not paid Rs 77 crore water tax. Highest of Rs 153.56 crore water dues is pending against Tata Steel mines division, Joda.
A startling trend of industrial units like NTPC and Bhusan using state’s water resources and selling power to states Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana and Tamil Nadu is emerging in recent times.
On the other hand take examples of Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. These two have made industries desalinate sea water for industrial use.
Speaking on this issue, Ranjan Panda of Water Initiative Odisha, said, “It is high time that state government took a policy decision for heavy industries banning drawing of surface water.”
Biswa Bhusan Mohapatra, OP
