Industries drawing water despite expiry of agreement – RTI reply
25 Feb, 2013An application was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to know the status of various industrial units of Sundargarh district that are drawing water from different sources. The reply to the application provided by the executive engineer in the irrigation department of the Odisha government stated that around 46 industrial units in Sundargarh have been drawing gallons of water from rivers, nallas and other sources illegally.
The reply said that the agreements of these industrial houses with the state irrigation department for withdrawal of water have expired and have not been renewed. Despite this, they are drawing water which is costing the state exchequer a loss of crores of rupees, the total outstanding amount being 24.72 crores.
Regarding the query as to what action has been taken against such industries, the reply from the executive engineer said that FIRs have been lodged against the companies at police stations under Sundargarh and Rourkela police district. However, enquiry revealed that none of the FIRs was registered on the complaint of irrigation office and hence no action was taken regarding them whatsoever.