MADURAI: A large number of small scale industries in southern districts of Tamil Nadu have threatened to to go for a one day shutdown on September 25th 2023 to protest against the EB charges hike and power tariff increase for industrial units by the Tamil Nadu State government.
At a press meet held in MADITSSIA in Madurai today- on September 16th 2023-, the representatives of various associations of micro, small and medium enterprises have urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin to review, recall and reduce the power tariff for micro, small and medium industries in the State because the increased EB charges are giving a heavy shock to industry, especially the small, micro and medium level factories.
The appeal from Madurai press meet today came from Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers Federation through its southern districts’ coordinator Mr.Pon.Kumar, MADITSSIA president Mr.R.M.Lakshminarayanan, secretary Mr.J.Kodeeswaran and office-bearers of different association starting from ‘Appalam’ to ice cream to industrial items because the EB bill cycle is hurting and killing the small industry.
“We are making a humble appeal to our Tamil Nadu Government and our Chief Minister Mr.M.K.Stalin to rethink about the power tariff of industries in our State. The small and medium level industries are facing threat of shutdown due to increased power tariff in the form of Fixed Charge, Peak Hour Charge and Solar Power Tariff. Our appeal is to TANGDECO and to our Chief Minister to reduce the EB charges and power tariff in the interest of people. The Fixed Charge for power tariff had gone up by 430 per cent from Rs.35 to Rs.150. We have given several representations to the State government to reduce the EB charges levied now. The representations of our industry appeal were sent through speed post from Madurai post office,” said Mr.Pon.Kumar and MADITSSIA president Mr.Lakshminarayanan while talking to reporters here on September 16th 2023.
The appeal being made from Madurai today is how can the State government collect huge tariff for solar power when there is subsidy given by the Union Government, what is the rationale for deciding peak hour charges and whether MSMEs can survive with this huge power tariff at a time when the Tamil Nadu State Government and Chief Minister M.K.Stalin are trying ti attract investments into industrial sector.
