Industry strike in TN on Sep 25th opposing power tariff hike; appeal to CM Stalin to reduce EB charges
The Tamil Nadu Industries Association leaders have announced that around 50,000 industries including small-scale industries will go on a one-day strike on September 25 against the electricity tariff revision in the state.
The protesting organizations are also demanding the state to withdraw peak hour charges and fixed charges.
The office bearers of the striking organizations in a statement said that around three crore labourers including 1.2 crore registered employees and migrant laboruers in these 50,000 units will strike work on Monday.
The group in the statement said that the state government did not consult with the industry representatives before taking a decision to increase the power tariff. They also charged that while states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Gujarat were providing subsidies to industries, the Tamil Nadu government was creating difficulties for the industries with exorbitant electricity tariffs.
Tiruppur Exporters and Manufacturers Association (TEAMA) president, M P Muthurathinam in a statement said, “The garment industries are suffering due to low order volume as well as labour issues. The peak hour charges levied in two phases from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and fixed charges are crippling small industries.”
Another industrialist from Coimbatore on conditions of anonymity said that the prices of HP motors for which the city is famous for has almost doubled due to the peak charges and fixed charges as well as the electricity tariff hike.
Speaking to IANS, the industrialist said, “We are seriously facing a shutdown and the state which was once an attractive destination is slowly becoming a persona non granta for us and we are planning to scout other states for better prospects.”
Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, South Indian Engineering Manufacturers Association (SIEMA), and Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers Association (TECA) are among the 165 industries organizations from the state that will participate in the strike on Monday against electricity tariff revision.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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