In A bid to check water pollution and ensure its judicious use, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill seeking a three-fold increase in the cess on water consumption by industries while abolishing the cess on hydel power projects. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess (Amendment) Bill was passed after Environment Minister T.R. Baalu informed the House that about Rs. 140 crore was likely to be raised annually from the cess of which 80 percent would be given to State Pollution Control Boards. Baalu said the legislation sought to augment the resources of central and state pollution control boards and promote economy in the use of water to check pollution.