Odisha offers one-time settlement to PSUs for water cess dues

Bhubaneswar: In an effort to reduce court cases and increase revenue collection, the Odisha government today approved a proposal for settlement of outstanding water rate dues of different central and state PSUs.

"The state government is likely to get Rs 150 crore from Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL) alone from an one-time settlement of outstanding industrial water rate dues," state Chief Secretary A P Padhi told reporters after the proposal was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Padhi said MCL has gone to various courts of law challenging the calculation of the water resources department.

"The principle of computing arrears shall be applicable to other central/state PSUs if they agree for one-time settlement," the Chief Secretary said.