SHILLONG, MAY 1: The Fact Finding Team (FFT) has recommended the need for stopping blanket subsidies of power supply to Industries operating in the state even as it suggested reviewing the State’s Industrail policy.
“The government should not provide blanket subsidies of power to all industrial units, which in most cases have been misused,” the FFT report submitted to the state government on Friday said.
The report on the power scenario of the FFT which comprises of six political parties was handed over to chief minister Mukul Sangma and power minister Clement Marak for necessary actions.
According to the FFT, the government is granting free or subsidized power supply to industries when they are not at all contributing to the development of the state.
At present, the industrial power demand is more than 55 per cent of the total unrestricted demand and pending industrial demand is around 120 MW, the report informed. The report said, ,”The presence of several ferro alloy units in Byrnihat (Ri Bhoi) and cement companies all over the state have led to allegations of some MeECL officials making huge amount by trading power to the industries units.”
As per RTI findings, at least 19 existing industrial units in Ri Bhoi District have failed to clear the power dues amounting to over Rs 76 crore to MeECL.
“The huge pending dues adds up to the inability of the Corporation to clear its power dues purchased from NEEPCO and others which has held the state at ransom,” it stated while adding that it appears that there are serious lapses in checking such irregularities.
The team has also questioned why was there no measures in place to collect the huge outstanding dues.
The report recommended that the MeECL should focus on augmenting its revenue collection by ensuring that all industrial and commercial units are made to pay their arrears within the stipulated time.
It also recommended to the state government to seriously review the Industrial policy in the state.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours