12-05-2022: An Emergency Advisory/ Executive Committee Meeting of Bari Brahmana Industries Association was held under the presidentship of Sh. Lalit Mahajan in the presence of Sh. Tarun Singla Sr. Vice President, Sh. Ajay Langer Vice President, Sh. Viraaj Malhotra General Secretary, Sh. Rajesh Jain Secretary and other members of BBIA to discuss the proposed Power Tariff for Industry as per the Petition filed by Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd with the increase of average approx. 40% Power Tariff along with substantial increase in the Fixed/Demand Charges for the year 2022-23 for the Industrial Sector of J&K resulting uncertainty prevails in the mind of the Existing Industrial Units as well as Prospective Investors who are in the process of setting up of New Units on the basis of Industrial Package announced by Govt. of India with the slogan of Lowest Power Tariff available for Industrial Sector in J&K.
The Members present in the meeting strongly condemned the move of proposed approx. 40% increase in the Power Tariff Hike and substantial increase in the Fixed/Demand charges by JPDCL for the FY 2022-23 which is unjustified as the Department has failed to reduce the AT&C Losses which is projected @ 43.77% for the FY 2022-23 whereas the National Level average AT&C Losses is approx. 20% but in last 3 Years Department has failed to reduce the Transmission Losses which is 50 to 52% as per the Petition. The JPDCL has mentioned in the Writ Petition with the justification of gap between the Purchase and Supply of Energy which is as our opinion only due excessive Transmission Losses in comparison to National Level, whereas in respect of Industrial Units working in Bari Brahmana Industrial Complex, the Transmission Losses are well within the prescribed limit of Power Development Department which is 7 to 8%, hence we do not understand the reason for increase in the Power Tariff for Industrial Sector. The Government should take preventive measures to plug the Loopholes in the System and try to control Transmission Losses the areas other than the Industrial Areas and also improve the Infrastructure to control the Transmission Losses.
It is pertinent to mention here that and any further increase in the Power Tariff may be resulting into closer of Units due to which massive Retrenchment of the Industrial Worker may be the last option for the existing working Industrial Units. It is also worthwhile to mention here that the Prospective Investors, who are in the process of setting up of their Units on the basis Cheap Power available in J&KUT, may opt for the shifting of their project to other States who are offering Lower Power Tariff for Industrial Sector.
It is worthwhile to mention here that an increase in the Power Tariff will be an additional burden on the Industrial Sector of J & K who is suffering badly due to COVID-19 situation since March 2020 but working in post Covid-19 period providing employment to local persons and paying the Power Dues on regular basis.
We request the Sh. Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Sh. Nitishwar Kumar(IAS), Principal Secretary to Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor & Power Development Department to very kindly look into matter and issue necessary directions for the withdrawal of proposed Petition filed by Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited.