Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101253360500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

Provide uninterrupted power supply: federation

Staff Reporter

Power cut pushes industries towards closure

Power in the evenings will help households and commercial establishments
Federation wants 4 per cent exemption on value added tax on generator sets

ERODE: The Federation of All Trade Associations of Erode District has urged the State Government not to cut power supply between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the town, as this move was causing a lot of hardship not only to shops and establishments but also to the common people.

Power

They have been forced to go without power for four hours in the evening even as the festival season is approaching.

A press release that was issued by the Federation says that by ensuring uninterrupted power supply in the evening, households and commercial establishments can, to an extent, bear the hardships that they now have to bear because of the power cut.

It also calls for exemption of value added tax (VAT) of 4 per cent on generator sets and 12.5 per cent on battery used in uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

Highlighting the difficulties the industries face in Erode, the release says the loss from power cut alone is to the extent of Rs. 5 crore a day in the textile town.

It further says that 50 per cent of the 27,800 industries in the district have been pushed towards closure because of the power cut.

Most affected among those are textile processing units, which have also hit by pollution problems.

Supply

It asks the Government to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the evenings at least till Deepavali.