Announce amnesty for power tariff to commercial, industrial consumers: KCCI to LG

Srinagar, Dec 5: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Inc) Monday urged Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to announce amnesty for power tariff in favor of commercial and industrial consumers.
The industrialist of Jammu & Kashmir region has almost collapsed due to the pandemic Covid -19 crises, President Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad said in a statement.
He also drew attention of Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar towards the industrial sector of Jammu & Kashmir, due to the financial crunch a number of units have not availed the previous power amnesty scheme.
President also requested the authorities not to disconnect the power supplies forcing the industrialists and commercial establishments to close down their units.
“Recently we met Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, J&K and we are waiting for the outcome of our suggestions given in the meeting and we request LG Administration to announce amnesty to the Commercial Consumers at par with Domestic Consumers so that they can pay their (pending) electricity bills waiving interest and penalties besides after settling the same with the Power Development Department,” he said.
He added that the power situation in the Kashmir both for industries as also domestic use remains to be uncertain and erratic load shedding and curtailment of power is frequent beyond tolerance, the supply is erratic yet the bills are raised irrationally. “Transformers damaged take month to get replaced leaving the people on lurk to cry for the essential requirement of electricity. With the onset of winter, unscheduled and prolonged power cuts have become an unwritten rule, not only in non-metered areas, but metered areas as well,” he said.
He said that the administration must come out immediately with a comprehensive power supply policy to cope with intermittent and unscheduled power cuts during this harsh winter.