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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Textile exporters meet Tamil Nadu CM, seek support to face U.S. tariff challenges
A delegation from the textile associations in Tamil Nadu met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday and urged him to support the industry, mainly the units that are into exports, to meet the challenges they face because of the 50 % tariff announced by the U.S. on Indian goods. Tamil Nadu accounts for 28% of India's total textile and clothing exports with hubs such as Tiruppur and Karur shipping substantial volume of goods to the U.S. The State is the single largest exporter of textiles to the U.S. from India, said a press release from the Southern India Mills' Association. The delegation that met the Chief Minister in the presence of Minister for Industries T. R. B. Rajaa highlighted the urgent need for coordinated State and Central government interventions to mitigate the adverse impact of the proposed U.S. tariff. The Chief Minister indicated that he will send a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a recommendation for immediate policy interventions, the SIMA release said. Mr. Rajaa said on X, 'The Honourable Chief Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to creating a stable, competitive, and supportive environment for exporters. We discussed how Tamil Nadu will work closely with the Union government to ensure our exporters are not disadvantaged by changing global trade policies. 'The government will also intensify efforts in trade facilitation, logistics, and infrastructure development to help exporters stay ahead in an increasingly competitive world. 'Tamil Nadu's exporters are a vital pillar of our economy, and their success is our shared success !.' The industry sought from the Tamil Nadu government extension of benefits under the State's Renewable Energy Regulations, including continuation of the annual banking scheme for windmills over 20 years old, withdrawal of network charges on captive rooftop solar installations, and exemption of open access power purchases from cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge for a period of one year. The State should also fast-track export refunds through a single-window mechanism and expedite State GST refund claims, both for exports and inverted duty. The delegation demanded from the Centre two-year moratorium for repayment of the principal loan amount, along with a 30% collateral-free loan under the Emergency Credit Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and 5% interest subvention.
United News of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Kerala HC directs KSERC to hold hybrid public hearings on renewable energy rules
Kochi, July 29 (UNI) The Kerala High Court has directed the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) to conduct hybrid public hearings - allowing both in-person and online participation - while considering revisions to the Renewable Energy Regulations. The directive follows widespread complaints that the Draft Renewable Energy Regulations 2025 issued by the KSERC pose a serious threat to ordinary consumers, particularly those seeking to install rooftop solar systems above 3 kW. The Court's decision comes in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Domestic On-Grid Solar Power Prosumers Forum Kerala, which raised concerns after the Commission decided to hold only online hearings, abandoning the physical format followed in previous years. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji noted the petitioners' grievance that the practice of physical hearings had been discontinued without adequate justification. In its order, the Court stated that physical hearings may be held in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram, but left the selection of specific venues and dates to the discretion of the Commission. The Bench stressed that the Commission must consider accessibility, convenience, sufficiency, and participant safety when finalizing the logistics. While the Commission had earlier cited law and order concerns as the reason for limiting hearings to an online format, the Court maintained that hybrid hearings are essential to ensure inclusivity and meaningful public participation. The Court also directed the Commission to formulate and notify, in advance, a clear and transparent procedure for conducting the public hearings, thereby promoting openness and procedural fairness. In summary, the High Court's order restores the option of physical attendance at public hearings in key locations across Kerala, in addition to online participation, and instructs the Commission to implement well-publicized and orderly procedures for the hearings. This approach aims to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and transparency in the regulatory process concerning renewable energy in the state. The draft regulations limit net metering to just 3 kW, a drastic rollback from the 2020 regulations, which permitted up to 1000 kW—enabling participation by large consumers and community-based institutions, Prosumers Forum said. Critics argue that the draft regulations disincentivize net metering in favor of unfair billing models that undervalue consumer-generated solar power. This exclusion could directly impact millions of consumers interested in installing rooftop solar systems above 3 kW. "KSEB claims that prosumers burden the grid by consuming during peak hours and exporting during off-peak, increasing system costs. But this is misleading. Solar power from prosumers is consumed locally, reducing transmission loss and storage needs," the Forum clarified. KSEB resells this power at three to four times the price, while paying prosumers as little as ₹3/unit. Their claim of a Rs500 crore loss due to prosumers is unverified, lacking audited data or regulatory backing. In reality, prosumers support the grid by reducing peak demand and aiding load balancing. The KSERC Draft Renewable Energy Regulations 2025 threatens to derail Kerala's clean energy future. Instead of encouraging a people-led transformation, it stifles grassroots solar adoption, jeopardizing public trust, climate goals, and energy freedom. If passed in its current form, Kerala will continue to import costly power while letting its rooftop solar potential go to waste—an environmental, economic, and democratic failure, the Forum said. UNI DS AAB
