State govt decision about rates impose an additional burden: Hogade

Kolhapur, Sep 16 (UNI) Maharashtra Electricity Consumers Sanghatana President Pratap Hogade has said that state government's recent decision about power rates to powerloom sector will impose an additional burden of Rs 80 crore per year on powerloom industry in the state.

Talking to UNI today Mr Hogade said that the state cabinet recently declared concessional power rates to be introduced to the powerloom sector for the year, 2007-2008 which actually impose a burden on powerloom industry.

As per new power rates, powerloom runners have to pay additional 30 to 40 paise per unit which means they have to pay Rs 60 to 80 per month per powerloom. Powerloom located at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) industrial estate zone have to pay higher than this, besides different amount of new rates for six month from April one, he pointed out.

As per old power rates powerloom runners in the state were charged 173.6 paise per unit and according to new power rates these charges will be 200 paise to 214 paise per unit to be charged to the powerloom runners, he added.

UNI