Extension to JSW Steel's power duty exemption illegal: MPCC

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today alleged that the extension of exemption from electricity duty granted to JSW Steel in August this year was in violation of rules.
MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant told reporters that the government stayed its own decision this month after an RTI query forced it to reveal that the decision was taken at secretary level and not by the council of ministers.
He alleged that Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was instrumental in getting the exemption period extended without approval of the cabinet.
"If not for the Congress party, the loss to the state exchequer would have been Rs 5.76 crore," he charged.

After the expiry of the exemption period, Mahavitaran, the power distribution company, levied electricity duty on the company in August and September 2012.
However, in October, the company produced an eligibility certificate issued by the Directorate of Industries about the renewal of eligibility period from 1998 to 2019.
Sawant said the order passed by the Department of Energy about the renewal in August this year was scrapped by the department in October saying that it was inappropriate.
He said the decision did not have approval of Finance and Law and Judiciary Departments.