Industrialists condemn addl security deposits, unscheduled power cuts

In the absence of quality power, the Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA) has condemned the imposition of additional security deposits on the industry. With the state government already having increased the electricity duty last year, the investors were further burdened with this charge.

Notices have been issued to the industries where the HP State Electricity Board Limited has raised a demand for additional security deposits as well as the recurring issue of unscheduled and intermittent power cuts in the region. In a bid to air their grievances, the Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA) held a meeting with Nalagarh HPSEBL Senior Executive Engineer Devender Kaundal recently.

Inimical step

Investors are struggling with inadequate road infrastructure and frequent disruptions in power supply, both of which are compounding their operational difficulties. Amid these circumstances the imposition of additional security was an inimical step. — Anil Sharma, NIA general secretary

NIA general secretary Anil Sharma resented that challenging circumstances faced by the industry in the Nalagarh region had made their survival difficult. “Investors are struggling with inadequate road infrastructure and frequent disruptions in power supply, both of which are compounding their operational difficulties. Amidst these circumstances the imposition of additional security was an inimical step.”

The security is consumption-based and is charged on the basis of a firm’s monthly bill. A mid-level industry had to pay lakhs in lieu of the security, said Anil Sharma.

While emphasising that the current conditions were not conducive for industrial operations and levying additional securities at this juncture was a detrimental step, Sharma said the quality of power should be improved in Nalagarh.

Senior Executive Engineer Kaundal, however, said such deposits were in accordance with standard regulatory requirements applicable to all consumers whether commercial or domestic. “However, in consideration of the financial burden, industries are permitted to pay the security deposit in quarterly instalments.”

He also advised that any grievances or recommendations from the industries could be submitted to the higher authorities for suitable resolution. The investors also rued that they incurred huge losses due to unscheduled and intermittent tripping of electricity, especially units having continuous processes where the quantum of wastage increases with each tripping.

Kaundal, however, said a 100 MVA transformer had been recently installed at Nangal Upparalla, which was expected to significantly improve power reliability and reduce interruptions in near future.