WIO demands exemption of irrigation, electricity bills of farmers
Coming down heavily on the State Government’s recent decision to waive water tax worth Rs 5,225 crore due to Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) ltd, the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) has termed the decision as “unfortunate.”
“This is intended to bail out the industries indirectly,” WIO convenor Ranjan Panda has alleged in a Press release.
Recalling that it had unearthed the ‘Great Odisha Water Scam’ in 2011 to inform the public about the State about the thousands of crores worth water tax and fine pending with OHPC and other private industries, he said, “We had smelt a conspiracy then and now are sure that something has been worked out in a hidden way to bail out the industrial customers of OHPC.”
In media statements after the scam came to light, the then Water Resources Secretary had said that all efforts were being made to recover these amounts. “However, when the matter came up for discussion in the next assembly sessions, the amount due with OHPC was mysteriously taken off from the list that had originally been shared with WIO,” Panda pointed out. If the State Govt has really taken this decision to benefit the common people of the State as it claims, it must come out with a detailed explanation to justify this decision, the WIO convenor demanded.
“The fact that private industrial houses of the State are defaulting in payment of both water tax and electricity tariff to the tune of several thousands of crores had proved that the so called reforms in the power sector has miserably failed in the State, he said. Pointing out that all reservoirs in which OHPC is generating power have displaced millions of people from their lands, forests and livelihood, Panda said; “The failure of OHPC in paying water tax thus means a direct injustice done to these millions of people. If the Govt has money, it should pay more compensation to these people instead of bailing out OHPC and its industrial consumers.”
“Farmers in the State are going through a tough time. Millions of them are leaving farming due to lack of assured irrigation. In reservoirs like Hirakud, where OHPC has a major power plant, the farmers are suffering from water scarcity due to diversion of water to industries. If the water used for power production won’t be taxed to benefit the industrial houses, then the farmers have every right to get tax waiver on water and electricity they have used from such reservoirs. WIO therefore demands the government to waive all water tax and electricity tariff collected from farmers during the same period for which OHPC has been waived water tax,” said Panda.