Faridabad industry seeks relief in power rates

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 7

Close on the heels of a relief announced for 41.53 lakh domestic consumers through a cut in power rates, Industry bodies here have asked the state government to provide a similar relief to them also.

The Faridabad Industries Association (FIA), a body representing about 500 industrial units here, has submitted a demand letter to the state Power Department. A spokesperson said the issue was taken up in a meeting with the officials concerned at Chandigarh recently. While no assurance had come so far, if the government could afford such a package to the domestic consumers the industry sector also deserved a relief, he said.

Claiming that the ban on the use of cheaper sources of energy, such as pet coke and furnace oil, had led to escalated costs, Col (retd) S Kapoor, Director of FIA, said any relief in the power rates would result in an increase in the production and quality, one of the major needs of the sector.

He described the energy consumption cost factor as vital for survival for any industry. Power rates in Haryana had been the highest among all northern states. The rates in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan were 15 to 20 per cent lower, he claimed.

Kapoor said while the current rates charged here had been between Rs 8.50 and 9.00 per unit, the rates were revised almost each year, thus increasing the financial burden at short intervals.

Ramneek Prabhakar, General Secretary, Manufacturers Association Faridabad (MAF), said though power supply had become stable over the past year, the rates were still a cause of concern. Any cut would be welcomed, he said.