Two-day power cut will hit SSI: Kalantri

Mumbai, May 4 (UNI) Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission's decision to shut down power to industries for two days in a week will hit the small scale industries hard.

Their productivity, exports and employment, will be badly affected, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) President Vijay G Kalantri said here today.

While acknowledging that the power situation was bad and there was a shortfall of over 6,000 MW power in Maharashtra, Mr Kalantri suggested that the shortage can be overcome by buying from the neighbouring states. Alternatively, industries and the Government could jointly adopt various measures of energy conservation, an AIAI statement said.

AIAI has urged the Government and the regulatory authority to reconsider the decision, at least for the small scale sector as there are over one lakh such industries which may eventually have to close down, unable to sustain the losses.

UNI