Collectors concerned over water tax collection in South Odisha

Berhampur: Almost all the district collectors under the southern revenue division have expressed their concern and  reservations over the collection of water tax keeping in view the insufficient irrigation facilities in the region.

A review meeting attended by southern district collectors and presided over by RDC Chandrasekhar Kumar was held on April 20 in Berhampur. During the review, it was, however, noticed that land revenue collection was achieved as per the desired target.

However, the district collectors were of the view that collection of water tax is a burden on the farmers as irrigation facilities are not available in the region in comparison to other parts of the state.

There is, however, a direction from the government to collect water tax even for the lands where no irrigation facilities are available.

The district collectors pleaded for relaxation of the direction while collecting tax in these areas.

Source: The Pragativadi