Cuttack, Sept. 1: Fourteen companies drawing Mahanadi water from reservoirs in the state owe the water resource Rs 149.65 crore. The state government has failed to collect the “water rate” arrears from the industries.

Orissa Water Planning Organisation’s engineer in-chief Nanda Kumar Mohapatra said 18 companies were allowed to draw water following the Orissa Irrigation (amendment) Rules, 2010, “for streamlining the water allocation procedure and bringing in rational water use improving efficiency and enhanced water rates”. n See Page 4