Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 18: Association of Industries (AOI), Gangyal (Jammu), has expressed strong resentment over the massive hike in the power tariff of the Industrial sector and demanded immediate roll back.
In an emergency meeting of the Association held here under the chairmanship of Rajesh Jain, its president and attended by other office bearers and leading industrialists, the speakers expressed serious concern over the excessive hike announced by the Government in electricity tariff. They pointed out that JERC has issued `death warrants’ for the ailing Industrial sector in J&K.
While speaking on the occasion, Jain said Joint Regulatory Electricity Commission (JERC) has increased power tariff to the tune of 22% and for Micro units having power load under 50 KV the hike is about 45% and the fixed charges have also been increased by 25%. He condemned the move of the JERC and said that it was against the National Electricity Policy.
The Association pointed out that at present entire Industry is 100 per cent metered and it is best pay master. But unfortunately this sector is being paralysed for being good consumer. Through such moves it appears that Government is not interested in retaining existing Micro/Small Industry in J&K and wants them to wipe out from the Industrial map of J&K. Government is doing its best to revive industry in UT but it appears that JERC is sabotaging the government move, they alleged
The members said the Government has already introduced smart meters and with this people are being made to pay whopping power bills but now with this sharp hike, the people are being crushed under the burden of fatty power bills. They demanded that government must roll back on the decision of massive power tariff hike.
Prominent among those present in the meeting included- Balram Gupta- vice president, Virender Jain-general secretary, Vijay Sharma-secretary and other executive members.
Follow our WhatsApp channel