By Odishatv Bureau

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As many as 42 industrial houses including government organisations have owed water cess amounting Rs 3797.14 crore to the Odisha Odisha government till March the assembly was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply to a query by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the industrial houses draw water from Mahanadi Bramhani Baitarani Indravati Kolab Rushikulya and Subarnarekha rivers.
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Majhi said water tax of Rs 1509.28 crore is pending against the firms drawing water from the Kolab river while those getting ot fromthe Mahanadi are yet to pay revenue worth Rs 962.78 crore.
Similarly water tax of Rs 822.76 crore is pending against the firms drawing water from Brahmani river Rs 489.08 crore revenue due against the industrial houses drawing water from Nagavali river as per the statement of the CM.
Moreover water tax worth Rs 1.31 crore Rs 9.35 crore and Rs 2.56 crore are pending against several industrial units getting water from Baitarani Indravati and Rushikulya rivers respectively.
In his statement Majhi informed the House that the highest Rs 244.10 crore water tax is pending against Bhusan Power Steel Ltd Sambalpur while Rs 195.83 crore is pending against Ballarpur Industries Ltd.
Adhunik Metaliks Ltd Sundargarh has an arrear of Rs 186.65 crore while Bhusan Steel Strips Ltd Dhenkanal is yet to pay water tax of Rs 185.05 crore he stated.
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The other major defaulters aremdashArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd Paradeep Rs 108.98 crore Viraj Steel Energy Limited Sambalpur Rs 98.34 crore Aarti Steel LtdCuttack Rs 58.36 crore and Paradeep Phosphate Ltd Rs 45.51 crore the statement said.