Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, March 14 Industrial bodies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, have demanded a reduction of Rs 5 per unit in electricity tariffs, citing soaring production costs amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, officials said on Saturday.
Earlier this week, the administration in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar asked industrial associations to present a list of demands, which was then handed over to State Industries Minister Uday Samant during a meeting.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a key business hub in the state’s Marathwada region, is home to automobile, engineering, pharmaceutical, and steel industries. The war between the US, Israel, and Iran has disrupted fuel supplies, increasing production costs.
Samant said on Thursday that industries in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have gas stocks for between three and 12 days, but operations should not be disrupted.
In their list of demands, the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), the Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA), among other organizations, sought a reduction in electricity tariff by Rs 5 per unit.
They cited that the rise in the prices of raw materials has increased production costs, and the reduction in electricity costs will provide relief to the sector, which has been affected by the war in West Asia.
Industries have also sought a moratorium on loan repayments, pending aid and subsidies, and expedited approval for alternative fuels.