15-10-2022: An Urgent meeting of the Advisory/Executive Committee of Bari Brahmana Industries Association was held today under the chairmanship of Sh. Lalit Mahajan, President of BBIA in the presence of Sh. Tarun Singla, Sr. Vice President, Sh. Ajay Langer Vice President, Sh. Viraaj Malhotra General Secretary, Sh. Rajesh Jain Secretary, Sh. Vivek Singhal Treasurer BBIA & other members to discuss the issue regarding the unwarranted Power Tariff Hike from 40% to 50% by JERC for Industrial Sector vide its order No. JERC/6 of 2022 passed on 13-10-2022 applicable from 01-10-2022 and Labour Department order No- S.O 513 dated 12-10-2022 applicable from 17-10-2022 in respect of exorbitant increase in the Minimum Wages.
The Members present in the meeting raised serious concerns in respect of approx. 40% to 50% Power Tariff Hike and 45% Minimum Wages for the Industrial Sector as notified by Govt. resulting in great resentment amongst the working Industrial Units as we fear that it is not possible for the Unit Holders to bear the additional production cost resulting closure of Units in near future and lakhs of Industrial Workers may lose their livelihood.
It is pertinent to mention here that Industrial Sector is penalized by the JERC by increasing the Power Tariff in spite of the fact that the Industry Consumes 30% of power & contributes 70% of the total revenue generation of PDD, Industry is 100% metered and the T&D Losses are much less than the National Average whereas the Power Development Department has failed to control the Transmission Losses resulting huge financial losses to the Government. PDD Department also failed to implement the directives for 100% Metering as Non-Metering is the major factor of Power Theft and Transmission Losses. Further, no action has been taken by the Power Development Department to regularize the Unmetered Power Supply to different Consumers of JKUT resulting in heavy losses to the State exchequer and the Department has passed the burden to the Genuine Industrial Sector is paying the amount of Power dues on regular basis.
In respect of approx. 38% increase in the minimum wages as notified by the Labour Department and if we include the impact of 12% EPF and 3.75% ESI contribution, the total production cost on account of wages will increase by 45% resulting it is unviable for the Unit Holders to bear the additional cost.
It is worthwhile to mention here that, with the total impact of the Power Tariff Hike and increase in the Minimum Wages which will be approx. 100 % increase in the production cost on account of Power and wages, affects the working of Industrial Units resulting closure of units and retrenchment of Industrial Workers.
We appeal to Sh. Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lt. Governor, to kindly intervene in the matter & issue necessary orders to roll back of recent Power Tariff and Minimum Wages Hike for the Industrial Sector.