Odisha trims water allocation for JSPL, JSL, NTPC

Move aims to conserve water and avoid its wastage

The state government has cut the quantum of water allocated originally to Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL), NTPC Ltd and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) as it looks to conserve water and avoid its wastage.

The water resources department has trimmed water allocation for JSL for its steel plant at Kalinganagar by 16.28 cusec and post the de-allocation, JSL's net allocation stands at 17.21 cusec.

NTPC which was originally allocated 120 cusec of water from the Brahamani river for its 3000 Mw super thermal power plant at Kaniha (near Talcher) has lost 15 cusec compared to 120 cusec of water allocation.

JSPL's water allocation has been cut down from 95.16 cuec to 66.16 cusec. The steel major has been allocated water from the Brahmani river for its integrated steel mill at Angul.

The state government has completely scrapped water allocation made to Maharashtra Seamless, Naba Bharat Power and JR Powergen Pvt Ltd since their projects have remained non-starters.

To conserve its water resource and ensure optimal utilisation, the government has decided in principle to turn off water allocation for industries that have made huge delay or the projects that are unlikely to come up.

Industries would have to utilise the allocated water within three years from the date of allocation. For those industries where the construction period exceeds three years, the water allocated needs to be utilised in a span of five years. Beyond this period, water may be de-allocated.

The water resources department is also considering a proposal for levying fixed charges on unutilised water by industries. The director, water resources would collect information on industrial water rate, fixed or commitment charges for non-drawal from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The government has created a 'Water Conservation Fund', a corpus fund wherein industries drawing five cusecs of water or more will contribute Rs 2.5 crore per cusec of water as an upfront amount.

The fund is to be utilized for construction of different water conservation projects such as medium irrigation projects, minor irrigation projects, check dams and barrages, weirs and bridge cum barrages in the upstream areas to conserve water for use in the lean seasons.

Since the storage capacity of a reservoir is mainly utilised by the industries in the non-monsoon season between October and June, they will be required to contribute to the fund.