New Delhi, Apr 3 (KNN) The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across the country are not functioning currently due to the nationwide lockdown. Since the lockdown is for every district of the country, the sector is demanding that the measures like Bank Loan moratorium or deferment in deadline of electricity bill or permission to move goods should also be announced and notified nationwide rather than just in few states.

One such case is with the electricity bill. On April 1, 2020, Gujarat Government extended the deadline for electricity bill payment to May 15. Also, for the FY2020-21, the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) did not change the tariff rates.

For below poverty line (BPL) consumers, the commission is offering concessional tariff that will reduce their electricity bills by 30%. Similarly for consumers from the agricultural sector the tariff has been reduced from Rs. 1.5 per unit to 80 paise.

In Maharashtra, from March 25, commercial and industrial electricity consumers have been allowed a moratorium on payment of fixed charges for the next 3 billing cycles. For the FY21 period, for residential consumers tariff has been slashed by 5%, similarly for commercial and industrial segment, the regulator has reduced tariff by an average 7%.

And in UP, the government on April1, allowed extension in bill payment generated between March 1 and April 14 to April 30. Also, customers who pay the bill by the due date will be given 1% rebate. Further, delayed payments shall not attract any surcharge.

The MSME associations across states and sectors are demanding that these measures should be announced by each and every state. In this regard many associations have even written letters to their respective state governments and concerned departments. (KNN Bureau)