Orissa mulls law to regulate ground water use by industries

Keeping in view the increasing use of ground water by the industries in Orissa and its impact on ground water levels and the environment, the state government is planning to come out with a law to restrict the use of ground water.

A law to regulate the use of ground water by the industries is under the active consideration of the state government, said the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Patnaik admitted that as many as 145 industrial units operating in the state were making use of ground water but set aside apprehensions of a dip in ground level.

“Except in a few locations, there is no significant decline in ground water level in the state. The ground water level usually gets recouped at these locations in the subsequent monsoons,” he stated.

In response to a query, the Chief Minister denied that the state government has received any report from the Government of India on ground water survey.

The industries making use of ground water are Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd, Visa Steel Ltd, Dinabandhu Steel & Power Ltd, Maithan Ispat Ltd, Ultratech Cement-Jharsuguda, Essel Mines, Ferro Alloys Corporation Ltd and Pattnaik Minerals Ltd to name a few.