Various industries, mines and institutions using water together owe Rs 2,754.45 crore as water tax arrears to the State Government by October-end this year.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Monday.
The companies which have registered cases against water tax dues owe a total of Rs 2293.45 crore to the State, the Chief Minster said.
According to data, the companies which have arrears of big amounts include Tata Steel, Arti Steel, Nalco, Tata Refractories, Mahanadi Coalfields, South-East Railway, Bhushan, Jindal, Sail, Reliance, Aska Sugar Mill, PPl, Odisha Power Consortium etc.
Besides, Nilachal Ispat, Idco, Imfa, Paradip Port, Essar Steel, Sterline Vedanta, ESPOl and Adhunik Metals are in the list of defaulters.
These companies and institutions are drawing water from Mahanadi, Baitarini, Upper Kolab Headwork, Burla main dam, Barbhangi, Samal Headwork Division, Rengali Canal, Baragarh Canal and various other irrigation divisions across the State. Only 2 per cent of compound is being imposed on water tax arrears.