Saturday, March 3, 2018

Non-collection of Water Tax causing colossal loss of Rs.3400 crores to State Exchequer


Non-collection of Water Tax causing colossal  loss of Rs.3400 crores to State Exchequer due to unholy alliance of Chief Minister with Companies, Exposed under RTI

Dear friends

Water Tax is the major source of revenue of the state.  A number of companies have been allocated water from various   rivers like Mahandi and its tributaries. From 2010 to 2017, a total quantity of 1229.857 cusecs of water has been allocated to 113 companies from various rivers more particularly from Mahanadi. But Water Resources Department which has been under control of Chief Minister since last 15 years  has miserably failed to collect water tax from these  Companies due to nexus of Chief Minister with these Companies.   Many of the Companies have brought stay order  on imposition of water tax  from High Court  since 2000 , year of Nabin Patnaik being elected as Chief Minister of Odisha.  The Minister, Officers and Engineers are so inefficient  that  they could not be able to vacate  State Order in High Court within period of 18 years.  Non-payment of water tax  by the Companies  has caused  a colossal loss of 3400 crore rupees  to state exchequer. If interest against pending amount is charged, it will be more than Rs. 5000 crore revenue loss to state exchequer. It is learn that Ministers, officers and Engineers are hand in gloves with these defaulting Companies and have been bribed heavily for not getting stay order vacated.   Steps taken by the Dept. to collect  water tax from the Companies  has remained  just eye wash exercise since 18 years.  

RTI Application was filed to the PIO, Dept. of Water Resources seeking information about water tax pending against companies in the State and steps taken to recover them. On 21.2.18, the PIO , office of EIC, Water Resources has supplied the following information.

1.       Total no. of 287 Companies have not paid water tax  to State Govt.
2.       Total outstanding of water tax against these Companies is Rs. 3411 crore.
3.       Major  companies  which  have deliberately not paid water tax for years together is as follows.
Sl.No.
Name of Company
Amount pending ( In crores)  as on 31.12.17
Arrear pending
1
Ballarpur Industries, Choudwar
255.21
30.5.2000
2
Arati Steel
40.07
March, 2013
3
Maheswary Ispat Limited
23.66
Nov. 20111
4
S.E.Railway, Jharsuguda
211.32
1.4.2000
5
Orient Paper Mills, Brajaraj Nagar
129.15
1.4.1999
6
M/s Bhusan Ltd.
50.26
Dec. 2004
7
Tata Refactories Ltd., Belapahad
39.08
1.4.1999
8
M/s  Shyam DRI  Pvt. Ltd.
62.24
Sept.2006
9
Rathi Steel & Power Ltd.
20.74

10
M/s ESPL Ltd.
13.68
Oct.2006
11
Sree Mahavir Ferro Alloys , Jiabahal
34.15
March, 2012
12
Adhunik Metaliks
29.72
Sept.2013
13
Vedanta Allumini Ltd.
10.86

14
Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.
39.50

15
NALCO, Angul
655.46
1.4.1999
16
Reliance Industries, Dhenkanal
26.52
1.4.1993
17
Bhusan Steel Limited
33.02

18
BRG Iron &Steel Co. Khuntuni
11.63
Oct.2010
19
Tata Steels, Joda
93.61
Jan., 1996
20
J.K.Corporation Limited, J.K.Pur
16.24
26.9.1994
21
Esar Steels India, Pvt. Ltd., Keonjhar
10.59

22
Sewa Paper Mill, Jeypore
443.83
2000
23
NALCO, Damanjodi
147.35
1.10.1999

2. Though many of the Companies  have brought stay order  from High Court against arbitrary imposition of Water Tax , the State Govt. have miserably failed to vacate stay order  and collect water tax  from the Companies  since 20 years.   It has been possible because of nexus of Chief Minister, top bureaucrats and Engineers of the Department.  Total No. of 23 Companies  have obtained stay order from High Court  and not paying water Tax. The details of Stary order obtained by the Companies from the High Court is as follows.

Sl.No.
Name of Industry
Court Case No.
Stay order /Decision, if any
1
Tata Steel
WP( C) No. 4602/2006
Stay is in force which is issued by High Court  on 4.9.2006
2
Bellarpur Industries , Choudwar
 OJC No. 2120/1996
OJC No. 3885/1997
OJC No. 2554/2000
Stay order issued by High Court on 30.5.2000 and still in force
3
Bellarpur Industries, jeypore
OJC No. 1899/1996 & ojc No. 6503/2000
Court directed  on dated 9.8.2000 not to take  any coercive action  and stay in force
4
Tata Refractory Ltd.
OJC No. 1903/1995
Stay order issued by High Court  on 14.2.1995 and still in force
5
NALCO, Damanjodi
OJC No. 2083/1995
 Stay On 23.8.2006, still in force
6
J.K.Corporation
OJC No. 6348/1995 & a new case WP (C ) No. 4199/2016
Stay since 26.9.94 and is still in force
7
NALCO, Angul
OJC No. 3783/1994 & OJC  No. 1149/1995
Stay granted on 23.6.1994 and still in force
8
Jindal Steel and Power Limited
WP( C) 18971/2015

9
Sri Arati Steels
WP (C ) No. 11955/2013 & 18581 of 2013

10
M/S Ganesh Sponge Pvt. Ltd.
WP( C ) 18907/2014

11
Orient Paper Mill, Brajaraj Nagar
OJC No. 4861/1994
OJC No. 2597/1995
OJC No.- 2078/1999

12
Odisha Synthetic, Baulapur( Reliance Industries Ltd.)
OJC No. 4075/1994
Stay from 12.8.1996 and further on 6.3.2003, still in force

Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date-3.3.18

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