Cuttack, June 24: A public interest litigation filed in Orissa High Court has sought intervention for recovery of water tax worth Rs 6,000 crore that is yet to be realised from major industries and public sector undertakings.

Bhubaneswar-based RTI activist Pradip Pradhan, 44, has alleged in his PIL that the huge amount of money was "outstanding against 59 companies and industries towards water tax."

Pradhan has sought the court's direction for recovery of the arrear water tax dues from the industries and companies with an annual interest of 18 per cent.

On the basis of information assessed through RTI, the petitioner alleged that more than a 100 companies, PSUs and mining operators had not paid water tax for 15 years.

However, the authorities concerned have taken no effective steps on the plea of legal disputes. Only 13 companies have challenged the water tax arrears in the court, the petition said.

The petition has sought the court's direction for action against the "errant officials" responsible for the lapses in collection of water tax.

The water tax arrears to the tune of Rs 6,000 crores are pending as the water resources department officials are "hand in glove" with the industries and companies have remained silent without discharging their duties, the petition said.

The huge arrears have "hampered the developmental activities of the state". The petition has not been taken up by the court for hearing so far.

The petition has also sought the court's direction to the state government to formulate a policy of priorities in allocation of water and to restrict use of water by the industries and companies.

"Industries and companies have been indiscriminately exploiting the ground water as well as surface water due to inaction of the state government in formulating a proper policy on allocation of water resources. This will create a lot of problems in future," the PIL contends.

"Policy and administrative initiative is warranted for developing and managing water resources but the state government has utterly failed to do so. As a result irrigation and drinking water sectors have been neglected," the petition said.