UCPMA condemns hike in power tariff

Ludhiana, October 1, 2012: A meeting of the office bearers of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers (UCPMA) held under the presidentship of Gurmeet Singh Kular here today, in connection with the revision of charges for the release of new electric connection to various categories of consumers which has come with effect from today.

The meeting strongly condemned the revision. “As a new LS industrial connection seeker will have to pay Rs. 2,200 per KVA instead of Rs. 900 per KVA upto 500 KVA and for new connection charges for medium supply industrial categories (20 KW to 100 KW) have to pay Rs. 1,900 per KW”, said Kular adding the increase of Rs. 1,300 and Rs. 1,000, respectively, was exorbitant and unbearable for the industry.

Adding, he said the industry was already facing crisis due to recession, shortage of labour and many other factors. He said that the government had already put burden on the industry to the tune of 10 paisa per unit.

“On the one hand the government has been assuring that the industry will not be given any burden in any sphere but on the other hand they are putting new type of burden with one pretext or the other”, he remarked.

Further, Kular said since April this year, this was the third increase in the electricity tariff which was forcing the industry either to shift to other states or to close down their units. He believed that 100% increase in new power connection charges for LS industrial categories and for MS categories was another jolt to the industry. He termed it “anti industry”.

Strongly condemning the hike, the meeting requested the government to withdraw it immediately, so that the industry might not think of leaving to other states