Srinagar, June 5: Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has demanded the rejection of Petition filled by KPDCL to Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for power tariff hike for Industrial units of Kashmir. On Saturday FCIK attended the hearing for petition filled by the KPCL to JERC on power tariff hike which was chaired by Chairman JERC Lokash D. Jha along with members Ajay Gupta Member (Technical ) & Mohammad Rafi Andrab (Finance). Dr. Basharat Qayoom Managing Director & Chief Engineer along with other officers of KPDCL were also present.
In a statement to Ziraat Times, FCIK Secretary General Ovees Qadir Jamie said that the tariff hike is up to 112% in Industrial category. “The hike in LT connection load Categories is between 54-112% and the HT connected load is touching upto 71%. The Aggregate Technical & Commercial losses is projected up to 54% for the FY 2022-23. The infrastructure & technology has not been updated to cover the losses as various approved schemes & projects has not been still completed or initiated by the department. He said that FCIK strongly condemned the Petition filled by the KPDCL to JERC for Power tariff increase. As the petition has an increase in Demand charges & consumption charges for Industrial sector to the unacceptable levels and is touching up to 112% which the highest among tariff category as per petition submitted to JERC”, he added.
FCIK President Shahid Kamili said the industrial fraternity demands to freeze the plans for power tariff hike for Industrial units of Kashmir.
“The Industry is trying hard to put their units back in track after so many years. The tariff hike move will prove detrimental to the interests of Kashmir Industry and the seriousness of the Government to see revival of industries in Kashmir and power tariff hike don’t go well together. It is like putting brakes on the joint revival efforts of the Govt and unit holders. FCIK opposes the move of KPDCL which will hinder the revival of ailing Kashmir industry. The industrial sector is already battling pesky & unscheduled power cuts which is taking a toll on the financial health of unit holders”, he said.
FCIK also raised the issue that some of the Industries has been not included into the Industrial tariff category and has been charged on commercial category which is unjustified as the same units are registered as Industrial sector units with valid Udyam/ DIC registration. The chairman urged the MD KPDCL to look into the matter for the redressal on priority and if needed to obtain the clarification from the government.
FCIK also asked the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission to keep the ailing nature of Kashmir Industry in consideration before approving the power hike proposal of KPDCL for Industrial Unit holders. The Chairman assured that the JERC will look into the petition filled by KPDCL in lieu the objections & demands raised by the FCIK in consideration while finalizing of tariff, the statement added.
