Steel, ferro alloys industries seek Bengal CMs help to reduce tariff hike by DVC
Kolkata, May 30 (PTI) Trade bodies representing the steel and ferro alloys industry in West Bengal have sought Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's help to reduce the steep hike in power tariffs by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which they claim would lead to a shutdown of operations.
In a joint statement, the Damodar Valley Power Consumers Association, the Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association of India and the West Bengal Sponge Iron Manufacturers Association claimed that the revised power tariff approved by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) for DVC sets the rate at ₹ 4.64 per unit for 2025–26.
Additionally, an extra ₹ 1.36 per unit is being charged toward arrears accumulated between 2014 and 2020, raising the effective tariff to ₹ 6 per unit, it added.
They also claimed that the DVC imposed extra charges through Energy Charge Rate (ECR) and Monthly Variable Cost Adjustment (MVCA), amounting to another 50 paise per unit.
"The net chargeable tariff to industries will now be around ₹ 6.80 per unit, a 30 per cent increase, which is unaffordable and threatens the survival of our units," the appeal stated.
Highlighting regional disparities, the stakeholders pointed out that DVC only charges ₹ 4.42 per unit from its consumers in Jharkhand.
"We are not against paying dues, but request that the ₹ 1.36 past arrears be recovered over the next six years to avoid tariff shocks," the appeal read.
They also demanded a forensic audit of ECR and MVCA charges levied since 2017-18, and urged that the DVC be restrained from collecting these amounts until the audit is complete.
"West Bengal is the second-largest contributor to India's secondary steel production, ferro alloys, pig iron, and pellets, and third in sponge iron output. Collapse of this sector will endanger the livelihoods of lakhs of people," the industry bodies warned.
Calling it a crisis, the stakeholders urged the CM to engage with WBERC and the DVC at the earliest.
"Your timely intervention will be instrumental in resolving this issue and saving these crucial industries in the state," the letter added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Murae Organisor board approves share split, to invest around Rs 25 cr in agri venture
New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) Pharmaceutical distributor Murae Organisor on Monday said its board has approved a 1:2 stock split with June 11 as the record date and also plans to invest around Rs 25 crore in an agri venture. The company's board has fixed June 11 as the record date for the division of every share into two shares, Ahmedabad-based Murae Organisor Ltd said in a release.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Bengal cabinet nod for inclusion of new castes on OBC list
The cabinet also gave its nod to a proposal to make Farakka a new subdivision in Murshidabad district, he said. These 76 new castes would be added to the existing 64 ethnic groups on the Other Backward Class (OBC) list in the state, he said. Kolkata, Jun 2 (PTI) The cabinet on Monday approved recommendations of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes (WBCBC) to include 76 new castes on the list for OBC, an official said. It was learned that the new subdivision would be constituted of Farakka, Shamsherganj, Suti-1 and Suti-2 blocks, he said. Earlier, these four blocks were part of the Jangipur subdivision. 'Due to the growing population, the Jangipur subdivision authorities were facing difficulties in executing administrative work in the vast area. Hence, the decision was taken,' the official told PTI. A source in Nabanna, the state secretariat, said that the council of ministers approved a decision to initiate a tendering process again to invite fresh bids for the proposed Rs 25,000-crore Tajpur deep-sea port project. The state government had, in 2023, dissolved the letter of intent (LoI) handed over to Gautam Adani-controlled Adani Ports to develop the deep-sea port, he said. 'The cabinet okayed the reopening of the tender for the Tajpur deep sea port project. The necessary steps will be followed soon,' the source said. During the cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat, approval was given to create 109 contract-based posts at various administrative levels for the new subdivision, he added. Notably, Banerjee, during her recent visit to the riot-hit areas of Murshidabad district, had announced the formation of the new subdivision. On Monday, the state cabinet also approved the creation of 336 posts and filling up the vacancies in the departments of home, health, finance, law, and municipal affairs, the official added. PTI SCH BDC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Tajpur deep sea port: Adani deal ‘over', state to float fresh tender
1 2 3 Kolkata: The Bengal cabinet on Monday decided to issue a fresh tender for the Tajpur deep sea port, ending its four-year association with Adani Group for the project. The state govt had announced in Nov 2023 that it would open a fresh tender for the Rs 25,000-crore project but did not formally announce its decision to scrap the first tender process completely. Days later, the state govt clarified that Adani Group was still involved in the project. It was then stated that requisite permission for the port was sought from the Union ministries of defence, shipping, external affairs and home affairs. Only the ministry of home affairs had given a conditional security clearance and made certain observations. But with things not progressing, the Bengal govt indicated that it would take a legal view. This Feb, when CM Mamata Banerjee was asked if the tender to Adani Ports had been cancelled, she said, "Tajpur port will be coming up. The tendering process will be looked at by the state finance department. We are taking legal opinion on the tendering process." On Monday, the Bengal cabinet finally gave its nod to a fresh tendering process. A senior official said, "Following the decision to issue a fresh tender for Tajpur port means the earlier agreement is null and void." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O novo dispositivo que os idosos usam para ajudar na neuropatia (dor nos nervos) A arte do herbalismo Undo The Bengal cabinet had approved a proposal by the Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ) to set up a deep sea port at Tajpur in Sept 2021. Initially, there were two bidders for the first deep sea project in the state — Adani Ports and JSW Infrastructure. The final day for bidding was March 14, 2021. In 2022, Karan Adani, director of APSEZ, was handed over the letter of intent for the port. The port, apart from providing direct employment for 25,000 people, would create indirect opportunities for many more. Located around 170 km from Kolkata, it would be 5 km off NH-116 and have a draft of over 12m. Its location would make it easily accessible from north Bengal and even the upcoming Dankuni freight corridor. According to the first tender, the successful bidder would be given 125 acres of seafront to develop the port and another 1,000 acres 4 km away for port-linked industrial development. There would be no need for any additional land acquisition, said sources.
