Ludhiana, July 10 (KNN) Industry Minister of Punjab, Sundar Sham Arora, has stepped into the matter after the industrialists stood against the Punjab State Government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) over the increasing power tariff.

The Industry Minister said the concern has been observed and PSPCL has been ordered that unit of power for small power (SP) consumers should cost Rs 5 per unit.

Recently, businessmen staged protest in Ludhiana against PSPCL and Punjab government for not taking the promises did by them during pre-polls of giving power at Rs 5 per unit to small industries.

Industry Minister said, “We are fully aware of the issue which industrialists of Punjab are facing. Our government has fulfilled the promise of giving power at Rs. 5 to the small industrialists and SP connection category consumers. Other than this, consumers of SP connection category are getting power at committed rates.”

Because of the tariff policy of PSPCL, SP consumers running factories for a shorter period on a daily basis are getting power at much high rates. PSPCL has been instructed to apply the same thing to consumers who have less power consumption.

“Within coming days, a concrete solution to this problem will come out and SP consumers will be benefitted of brought down charges,” Arora said.    

“In industrial areas doing away with land mafias, notices have been given by us under our policy to the hundreds of plot owners in industrial areas. These plots have been kept for the purpose of investment in setting up factories. They have been asked to pay the penalties and start the construction or surrender their plots. This step will help in setting up industries and transferred to the businessmen”, he added.  (KNN/ VS)