Ranchi, Aug 6 (KNN) The induction furnace industries have expressed their concern to the power supply body of Jharkhand, Urja Vitran Nigam (JUVNL), for imposing a high tariff. Because of this, several induction furnaces have been shut down in Ramgarh, Adityapur and Chandil clusters.

Speaking to the KNN Media, President, Jharkhand Small Industries Association (JSIA), S.K. Agrawal said, “Power supply is the raw material for induction furnaces and hike in it is a negative sign for the industry. JUVNL has not the vast reach over the state to supply the power continuously. It is not capable to hold the demands of supply uniformly which comes ahead of the productivity of furnace industries”.

In the Ramgarh area, there are a number of induction furnaces which is a known cluster for it across the state. The crunch of supply was never new for the area and industry both but it needs to be taken into consideration. Planning and implementation should be done immediately as the crunch of supply is indicating.

“There were more than 25 industries which were in operation from five to six years back. Negligence of JUVNL has created a problem for the industrialists who were forced and bounded to shut down their respective units, Agrawal further added.

JUVNL charges Rs 5.50 per unit from induction furnaces and other industries based in the Kolhan region. In flip to this, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) supplies power to Ramgarh, Deoghar and many other districts with a charge of Rs 2.95 per unit. It is the demand of us from the Government either to bring down the rate of JUVNL or we should get supply from DVC.

Addressing this issue we had put this in front of government for the consideration and initiating steps to solve it. In addition to this, we have suggested to the government to do privatization of power supply. Neither privatization is happening nor power is being supplied from DVC and tariff is stable” Supply chain is the basic problem behind supply crunch. He said the industries are not provided with prior notice or announcement from JUVNL on power cut. On an average from cities like Ranchi to areas like here, supply is done for 20 hours a day round the year.

Last month we submitted our report in a meeting held to the Chief Secretary of the state. We have also suggested to provide private license for electricity supply for hassle-free manufacturing in the area. We were assured by the Chief Secretary on privatization and were given information on its proceedings and implementation.  

The ratio of shut down industries has risen to 50 percent marked, Agarwal. To meet the power supply it is must for the industrialists to have their own power generation capability either from solar energy or other ways.

The  Adityapur industrial area, which is one of the largest industrial belts in Asia is feeling a dip in running the industries units.