Backward areas to get cheap power

The Cabinet sub-committee formed under the chairmanship of energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has approved the move to provide power at a concession to industrial units in Vidarbha, Marathwada, North Maharashtra regions and backward areas of Konkan and Western Maharashtra.

Earlier, the energy department had proposed a Rs 1,000-crore scheme to provide concessions only to industries in Vidarbha and Marathwada. However, the proposal was stalled by former minister Eknath Khadse and water resources minister Girish Mahajan. Both of them are from Jalgaon and had demanded that North Maharashtra should also be included in the scheme.

The committee has approved the decision to bring fuel adjustment cost, which is 90 paise now, down by 30 paise in Marathwada, 40 paise in Vidarbha and 20 paise in North Maharashtra. The decision will be applicable with retrospective effect from April 1, 2016 and it will be reviewed after three years, Mr Bawankule said. The new industrial units will be given 75 paise per unit concession in Vidarbha and Marathwada and 50 paise per unit discount in North Maharashtra and scheduled areas of remaining two regions.

The sub-committee was set up last May to examine concessions in power tariffs for industries in Vidarbha and Marathwada, North Maharashtra and D and D+ areas. The other members of the committee included water resources minister Girish Mahajan, transport minister Divakar Raote, social justice minister rajkumar Badole, and adivasi development minister Vishnu Savara.

The committee held two meetings and gave its not to provide power at a concession to the industrial units in the regions.