Subsidy for industrial power consumers stopped, industrialists worried

Aurangabad, Feb 6:

The Maharashtra state government had announced subsidies to industrial power consumers to boost industry growth in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Khandesh areas. But this concession was discontinued for the bills issued in January 2021. The Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) has demanded that the subsidy must resume providing relief to already troubled industrial sector.

The CMIA in a statement said that for the financial year 2020-21, the state government has allocated grants amounting to Rs 1,200 crore. In order to get this subsidy, industrial power consumers were required to use electricity sparingly and efficiently and pay their electricity bills on time. However, due to the expiry of the sanctioned subsidy, the concession was not given to the industrial consumers in the electricity bill of January 2021. This has created confusion among the industrial power consumers in the state. After the outbreak of Covid-19, the government had announced a lockdown. The industrialists had to suffer huge financial losses. However, since the past few months, the entrepreneurs are trying to make up for the losses incurred during this period. However, the state government has not announced any additional subsidy or assistance to the industries after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Statement to CM

CMIA president Kamleish Dhoot and secretary Satish Lonikar said that it was completely wrong to stop the existing subsidy and further push the industrialists in financial crisis. CMIA has informed that a statement will be given to the chief minister and energy minister in this regard.