CICU condemns proposal of PSPCL for seeking hike in power tariff

Ludhiana, December 27, 2013: Avtar Singh, President, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana said that the proposal of PSPCL for seeking hike in power tariff by 65 paise per unit submitted to PSERC is uncalled for which will have negative impact on the industry as the cost of production will go up subsequently and lead the industry uncompetitive.
In a statement here today, he added this unrealistic proposal is contrary to the industrial investment opportunities offered by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal during the recent meetings held with the captains of Punjab Industry at Mohali & Ludhiana. Moreover, Punjab is now a Power Surplus State and should provide power at reasonable rate with other States in India.
Upkar Singh Ahuja, General Secretary, CICU said that in the current fiscal PSERC on 10-04-2013 had already allowed increase in Power Tariff for Small Scale industry by 64 paisa per unit- from Rs. 5.10 to Rs. 5.74 (12.55%), for Medium Scale industry by 65 paisa per unit- from Rs. 5.61 to Rs. 6.26 (11.58%) and for General industry by 72 paisa - from Rs. 5.61 to 6.33 (12.83%). P.S.P.C.L. is requested to set its own house in order by reducing man power,   T & D losses, transit loss of coal and curbing the menace of theft of energy then there will not be any need to revise Power Tariff regularly. Further there is still ample scope of savings in the Administrative expenditure of the PSPCL.
CICU requests and urges upon Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to advise Chairman PSERC not to grant approval for the proposal of PSPCL for seeking hike in power tariff so as to encourage investments from other states in Punjab and to boost existing industry.