'Why waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta?'

BHUBANESWAR: The move by the State Government to waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) for withdrawal of water from Bheden river and Hirakud reservoir came in for sharp criticism from the Opposition in the Assembly on Saturday.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said when farmers are not getting water for cultivation, the Government is protecting the interests of the big industries by allowing them to draw water from Hirakud reservoir.

Sources said the Executive Engineer, Main Dam division, Burla, had written a letter to Additional Secretary in the Water Resources department on November 18 recommending waiver of penalty due on VAL.   The Leader of the Opposition alleged that water penalty has not been charged on VAL  because of a telephonic instruction from the Additional Secretary of the Water Resources department.

Describing the State Government as the ‘government of big industries’, Leader of the Opposition said farmers are ignored as they are not getting water for cultivation and drought situation prevails in entire Western Odisha districts. He said the Government policy is leading farmers towards suicide.

Singh said farmers have suffered huge losses because of the dry spell and subsequent drought during the year. He demanded that the State Government should waive energy bill on the farmers.

Criticising the State Government for its move to waive water cess penalty on VAL, Santosh Singh Saluja (Cong) said farmers never get such concessions. Stating that the State is facing drought and flood for the last three seasons continuously, Saluja said farmers have suffered huge losses due to the inaction of the Government.

He said the main purpose behind construction of Hirakud reservoir was flood control and providing irrigation facilities to farmers. But now water from the reservoir is mainly used for meeting the demands of industries. Saluja supported Singh’s demand for waiver of energy bills for the farmers.