United Breweries produces its Kingfisher and London Pilsner brand beers in Maharashtra for which water is used as raw material. However, the Vijay Mallya company was refusing to pay water charges to its supplier, the MIDC
Mumbai: In a jolt to Vijay Mallya-owned United Breweries Ltd, the Bombay High Court has directed the beer manufacturing company to pay water bills pending since 2001 to till date to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), reports PTI.
A division bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and PD Kode was hearing a petition filed by United Breweries challenging a circular issued by MIDC in October last year along with water bills raised by the corporation against the company.
MIDC had issued the circular along with the increased water bills pursuant to a notification issued by the Maharashtra government in 2001 raising water rates by 1000% for industries that are classified as "industries using water as raw material".
The court today, however, refused to grant any relief and directed the company to pay water bills at the revised rate from 2001 till date.
According to the petition, United Breweries, engaged in manufacturing beer under brand names such as Kingfisher and London Pilsner, had set up three manufacturing units in Taloja and Nerul in Navi Mumbai.
MIDC and the company had entered into water supply agreements, by which, the corporation can fix charges for water from time to time at its discretion. "However, any change in water rate will have to be informed to the company one month in advance. MIDC did not give any notice regarding change in water rates," the petition states.
The court, however, did not find any merit in the argument and dismissed the petition. The bench has stayed its order for four weeks to permit the company to approach the apex court. It has however directed the company to deposit 50% of the due amount as security.
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Every one who can be owed is owed and everything than than be owned is off the books! What a heady brew!!