Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: Electricity dues amountingto Rs 4097.67 crore was exempted to 14 industries by Odisha government under various schemes during the last 10 years.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo informed this on Wednesday in Odisha Assembly in a written reply to a question from senior Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati.
The electricity dues to these 14 industries was exempted since the financial year 2015-16 under schemes such as the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) and the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Policy, Singh Deo said, who also holds the portfolio of Energy Minister.
The Odisha government exempted the highest electricity dues of Rs 3599.88 crore for Vedanta Ltd, Jharsuguda, under the SEZ Policy-2015, while the central PSU, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Paradip, received an exemption of Rs 314.03 crore. Additionally, Angul-based Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) was granted a waiver of Rs 103.16 crore in electricity duty, he informed the Assembly.
