Industries drawing water from reservoirs will compensate for the loss of hydro power with effect from 2006. The compensation to be charged is fixed at Rs 3 per kilo watt hour (kwh) for 2005-06 and the unit rate of energy will be enhanced by 10 per cent per annum thereafter.
The decision was taken as per the directive of the Odisha High Court on March 30 to the State Government to formulate a policy to maintain a balance between industrial units and hydro electricity projects so far as use of reservoir water is concerned.
As per the principles, decided by a high- level official committee headed by Water Resources Secretary SC Mohapatra, the energy compensation will be calculated as per the water allocation to industries since 2006 whereas the calculation will be based on actual drawing by industries before 2006.
The Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) will raise energy compensation bill against industries using reservoir water during non-monsoon period and recover the arrear dues.
Since some industries have been depositing water tax and energy compensation charges with the Water Resources Department as per their agreement, it was decided that the department will not transfer the compensation amount to OHPC. However, the same will be adjusted against the water tax to be paid by the industries in coming months.
The Water Resources Department will furnish a list of industries, drawing water from the reservoirs, with relevant information on date of agreement, quantity of water allocated and actual quantity of water drawn to OHPC for generation of arrear energy compensation and current bill to industries.
“In case of Hirakud and Rengali, the period of energy compensation will be from November 1 to June 30 (non-monsoon period), whereas for other hydro power stations the compensation will be charged for the whole year,” sources in the Energy Department told this paper.
The Water Resources Department has reportedly moved a proposal to the Government for an executive instruction for signing supplementary agreement between OHPC and the industries for compensation for loss of energy.
The committee also decided to create a corpus fund for maintenance and dredging of reservoirs and water bodies to regain the lost capacity. However, creation of such a corpus requires Cabinet approval.
The High Court directed the Government to make a proper legislation for controlling and distributing reservoir water and creating a corpus by imposing a levy on industrial units drawing water from reservoirs.
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