Besides residential areas, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) of Rourkela provides drinking water to more than 85 industrial units here. But surprisingly, many of them are evading the water tax for years together. As per information obtained through RTI, it is revealed that while Rs45,000 is due on Sulochana Enterprises of Rourkela Industrial Estate, Rs40,000 each is due on Maa Kali Industries, Rourkela Cooperative Industry, Prabhat Iron Foundry, Behera Enterprises, Meher Enterprises and Orissa Agro limited.
Similarly, Rs45,000 is due on AK Dixit Industries, Rs60,000 each on Murali Industries, Model Foot Wear and Utkal Chemicals, Rs35,000 each on GK Enterprises and Didar Enterprises, Rs38,000 each on Mana Sarovar Industry and Prophy Corporation, Rs7,000 on Steel Engineering, Rs25,000 each on Remag Electo Pvt ltd and Hirakud Enterprises and Rs35,000 due on ORB Enterprises. Besides, many more industries are there whose dues are below Rs20,000 each.
PHED Assistant Engineer K Behera says there are three major reasons for lapses in tax collection. According to him, due to staff crunch, the department is not in a position for regular mobilization for tax collection. Secondly, many industries are either locked out or willingly evading the tax. Thirdly, some of them are keeping aside the old dues now paying the current monthly bill to keep their connection intact.