Bengaluru, July 9 (KNN) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka on Wednesday met the senior official of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) and sought waiver of fixed electricity charges for the months of April and May.

As part of measures to mitigate the impact of COVID 19 on MSMEs the state government had ordered a waiver of fixed electricity charges for the months of April and May for the benefit of MSMEs.

However, it is found that BESCOM officials down the line have disregarded the clear instructions by only deferring fixed charges in many cases and also by reversing waiver wherever done resulting in complete confusion.

''The government order is very clear and wants to extend the facility to the entire MSME fraternity irrespective of whether MSME units operate from their own premises or rented sheds.

As this has created a lot of confusion in the MSMEs, Arasappa, President met MD Rajesh Gowda MD BESCOM to apprise him of the ground realities and the need for taking immediate corrective measures,'' said Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) in a statement.

The statement further said that the KASSIA team had very useful discussions with the MD BESCOM and senior officers, including Finance Director, and were assured that BESCOM would take immediate steps by restoring the waiver of fixed charges through suitable deductions in the July bills to give effect to the two months waiver of fixed charges.

''The BESCOM assured that they would accept GST certificates of MSMEs wherever rental agreements are yet to be renewed for availing the concessions also extending the same benefit to all cases where units have multiple workplaces,'' KASSIA added.

The KASSIA emphasized to ensure that no one is excluded from availing the benefits on mere procedural grounds as 95 per cent MSMEs work from rented sheds.

Later the KASSIA met Maheswar Rao, Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce and apprised him of the present state of MSMEs in the state highlighting the need for ensuring that the industry gets access to finance and other resources.

Rao assured KASSIA of all possible help and said that the government would cooperate.