Industries seek power tariff cut in Maharashtra
Two bodies launch signature campaign demanding either a Rs 2/unit reduction or a Rs 5K-cr subsidy
Industry consumers of electricity in Maharashtra are up in arms against high power tariffs in the state.
The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) and the State Coordination Committee of Electricity Consumers have together launched the campaign to collect 50,000 signatures up to August 20. The aim of the drive is to highlight how the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran) tariffs have increased by 15-20% since September 2018 and how they are at least 30-40% higher than those in other states.
Of the 2.50 crore total consumers of MahaVitaran, 3.90 lakh are industry consumers.
The two will also present a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Tariff Chart |
|---|
| Maharashtra: Rs 8.85-9.48/unit |
| Karnataka: Rs 7.60- 7.90/unit |
| Gujarat: Rs 5.40-6.45/unit |
| Madhya Pradesh: Rs 8.10-8.80/unit |
| Chhattisgarh: Rs 7.55-7.65/unit |
| Telangana: Rs 7.90-Rs 8.40/unit |
State Coordination Committee convener, Pratap Hogade told DNA, "For high tension consumers, the tariff in Maharashtra ranges between Rs 8.85 per unit and Rs 9.48 per unit compared to Rs 7.60 to Rs 7.90 per unit in Karnataka, Rs 5.40 to Rs 6.45 per unit in Gujarat, Rs 8.10 to 8.80 per unit in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 7.55 to 7.65 per unit in Chhattisgarh and Rs 7.90 to Rs 8.40 per unit in Telangana.'' Similarly, he said that the low tension consumers in the state are charged for power at Rs 10.44 per unit compared to Rs 7.78 to Rs 8.67 per unit in Karnataka, Rs 6.25 to Rs 7 per unit in Gujarat, Rs 8 to Rs 9 per unit in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 6.80 to Rs 7.95 per unit and Rs 7.40 per unit in Telangana.
Hogade said the tariff for industry consumers should be immediately brought down by minimum Rs 2 per unit. ''If not tariff cuts, then the government should provide a subsidy of Rs 5,000 crore annually to industry consumers to help them stay afloat,'' he said.
MACCIA president Santosh Mandlecha said that it was impossible for industry consumers to run businesses with such high tariffs and government intervention is urgently needed.
A MahaVitaran spokesman said the tariff is determined by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and not by MahaVitaran. "The Chamber and the Coordination Committee should approach MERC to pursue their cause,'' he said.