Industries observe bandh to protest against power tariff hike

It may be mentioned here that after Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), the MSEDCL recently hiked power tariff from September.

MIDC Industries Association president Madhusudan Roongta had criticised Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for approving power tariff hikes, six times in the year 2009-10 and seven times during 2010-11.

As a result, the cost of power in Maharashtra has become dearer to consumers here compared to other states like Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

In fact, despite Karnataka, Goa and Gujarat not having any coal mines or coal reserves of their own, their governments offer power to consumers much cheaper than Maharashtra, he said.

Industrialists here find it hard to compete in the market with others, as power is one of the major constituents in industrial production.

"We have submitted memorandum urging for a roll back of the hike to Member of Parliament Hansraj Ahir, Maharashtra BJP president and MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, MLC Shobhatai Fadnavis, district collector Vijay Waghmare and executive engineer (MSEDCL) Archana Godeshwar," he said.

He said that MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar has assured to take up the issue with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in a day or two. Roongta also warned that industrialists shall not pay the current power bill, if the government fails to roll back the power tariff hike.