Terming the decision disappointing, Sandeep Parikh, vice-president, Confederation of Small Industries said they had sought waiver of fixed charges in the electricity bill as well as electricity duty
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a proposal to reduce electricity duty for industries by nearly 2%. The MVA government is aggressively persuading industries to set up units to kickstart the economy. “This reduction in duty is to encourage industrial activity in the state,” said energy minister Nitin Raut. The move to cut electricity duty from 9.3% to 7.5% will cost the state exchequer Rs 440 crore annually.
Terming the decision disappointing, Sandeep Parikh, vice-president, Confederation of Small Industries said they had sought waiver of fixed charges in the electricity bill as well as electricity duty. “It is too little. The Centre has given Rs 90,000 crore to power distribution companies, states should pass on some benefits to users,” he said.
MSEDCL chief spokesperson Anil Kamble said nearly 14,000 HT (high tension) industry consumers and four lakh LT (low tension)units will benefit.
Sandeep Belsare, president, Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Scale Industries Association, urged the state government to reconsider the decision.
Cabinet nod to extend IT policy
The state cabinet has approved extension of the IT policy which was to expire on June 30. The industry department is now seeking views from stakeholders via webinars. A new policy will be framed soon, said a government press release. State GST on fish food and other non-agricultural items will also be retrospectively waived.
Source: TNN
