Power tariff issues of Industry will be addressed favourably by State Government- Vishwas Pathak
Nagpur :- A delegation of Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry & Trade (CAMIT) led by Dr Dipen Agrawal, President consisting of Saurabh Shah, Treasurer, Satish Shetty, President – Thane Industries Association (TIA) and Shrinath Shetty called upon Vishwas Pathak Director MSEB Holding Co, MAHAGENCO, MAHATRANSCO, & MAHADISCOM. The delegation demanded the Director to supply power at subsidized rates to Vidarbha, Marathwada and D and D+ areas of Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s power tariff for industries is said to be among the highest in the country. Earlier Govt. had provided subsidies for the backward region, which led to many industries starting their units here. In the last couple of years, the subsidy is stopped, as a result there is substantial decline in new industrial investment. The existing industries in the area are upset and struggling for survival. They have deferred their expansion plans. State Government needs to give concession in power tariffs so that more companies set up bases here.
Vishwas Pathak assured the delegation that the state government and the department is positive and working on it favourably, but the challenge is to avoid misuse of the subsidy as it has been experienced in the past.
The delegation put forward a long pending request for change of staggering day from Friday to Sunday at Taloja MIDC. Taloja MIDC is a Steel Hub and has more than 200 steel service centres, warehouses and steel manufacturing units. This MIDC is vibrant only because of large number of steel related industries which supply steel to mainly auto hub in Pune and Nasik. The power staggering at Taloja MIDC is on Friday while the power staggering at Pune MIDC is on Sunday. Consequently, steel suppliers cannot load material on Friday as Taloja has no power and also cannot load on Saturday as trucks would reach Pune on Sunday and on Sunday, Pune is closed. This means effectively 2 to 3 man days are lost and thus brings down the efficiency and production levels of these units.
After giving a patient hearing to the issues raised before him, Vishwas Pathak directed the officers below to do the needful at the earliest to change the staggering day at Taloja. Saurabh Shah on behalf of the delegation thanked the Director for his valued time and positive attitude to address the long pending demand of industry.
