MADITSSIA calls for strike on April 20 against peak hour power charges

Madurai, Apr 19 (KNN) The Madurai district tiny and small scale industries association (MADITSSIA) will stage a protest on April 20 demanding withdrawal of peak hour electricity charges for Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

MADITSSIA is an umbrella organization under TANSTIA with over 1,500 direct members and affiliates with 35 industrial associations across the state.

Addressing the reporters on Tuesday, M S Sampath, president of MADITSSIA said that they held a discussion with their parent organization TANSTIA and decided to extend their support to it by participating in the strike and to hold a silent protest in front of Madurai collector office on April 20 from 10.30 am to 11.30 am to draw the attention of the administration.

“The association has decided to plead the chief minister to fix 35 per KW from 0 – 50 KW as fixed charges for the industries using the low tension tariff and 75 per KW from 51 – 112 KW,” Sampath said

He added that after the power tariff revision, the small-scale industries are paying 100 per KW for 0 – 50 KW and 325 per KW from 50 – 100 KW. Such steep hike on power tariff is bleeding the industries.

In March, the Tamil Nadu government had passed an order to reduce the peak hour charges from 25 per cent to 15 per cent  but the electricity board has decided not to implement it till the TOD meters are fixed in the industries.

The Madurai based association is demanding the removal of the peak hour charges till the meters are fixed.

The association also expressed its disappointment over the state government not forming a welfare board for MSMEs, which they have been demanding it for the last two decades.

Sampath added that all the major trade and industrial bodies like the Tamil Nadu chamber of commerce and industry and Tamil Nadu foodgrains merchants association have expressed their support to the protest.  (KNN Bureau)