By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar December 11, 2017: Various industries, mines and institutions using water together owe Rs 2,754.45 crore as water tax arrears to the Odisha government by October-end this year, according to a reply by chief minister Naveen Patnaik 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 CM said.

The companies which have huge arrears include Tata Steel, Arati Steel, Nalco, Tata Refractories, Mahanadi Coalfields, South-East Railway, Bhushan, Jindal, Sail, Reliance, Aska Sugar Mill, Paradip Phosphates Ltd, Odisha Power Consortium etc.

Besides, Nilachal Ispat, Idco, Imfa, Paradip Port, Essar Steel, Sterline Vedanta, ESPOL and Adhunik Metals are also 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.