Coimbatore: The announcement regarding the payment of electricity bills by MSMEs that was issued recently directed MSMEs to pay the bills before May 6,2020. Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan has sent a letter to the State Minister for Electricity P. Thangamani, requesting for a more agreeable directive regarding the payment.
Coimbatore: The announcement regarding the payment of electricity bills by MSMEs that was issued recently directed MSMEs to pay the bills before May 6,2020. Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan has sent a letter to the State Minister for Electricity P. Thangamani, requesting for a more agreeable directive regarding the payment.
In the letter to the State Minister for Electricity, the MP stated, "As per the information sent to the MSMEs by the Department of Electricity, the payment for the months of March and April are expected to be completed by May 6, 2020. Since the readings for the respective months have not been done, the MSMEs can consider the readings taken for the months of January and February, for payment."
Suggesting that this move will will hurt the MSMEs, he said, "The lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19 began on March 25. All MSMEs and power loom plants have been out of operation from that date. Due to this they are already preparing for difficult financial days ahead. In this situation it is a disservice to ask the industries to bear the electricity charges as soon as they begin functioning. This will push them deeper into debt."
Further he also took strong objection against the Electricity department's suggestion to use the readings for the month of January and February. He said, "The reading of January and February when the MSMEs functioned in a full fledged manner is not representative of the functioning of the factories in April. In April all the MSMEs were practically shut down, without any production. It is therefore unfair to expect them to pay the same charges as January and February for March and April."
"Once the MSMEs begin functioning it can be discussed with the industry members whether the payment can be made in installments or if the electricity bill payments can be waived off. That will be a suitable approach", he suggested.
He therefore requested the Electricity department to make changes to the announcement made and make a fresh announcement regarding the payment of bills by the MSMEs.
In the letter to the State Minister for Electricity, the MP stated, "As per the information sent to the MSMEs by the Department of Electricity, the payment for the months of March and April are expected to be completed by May 6, 2020. Since the readings for the respective months have not been done, the MSMEs can consider the readings taken for the months of January and February, for payment."
Suggesting that this move will will hurt the MSMEs, he said, "The lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19 began on March 25. All MSMEs and power loom plants have been out of operation from that date. Due to this they are already preparing for difficult financial days ahead. In this situation it is a disservice to ask the industries to bear the electricity charges as soon as they begin functioning. This will push them deeper into debt."
Further he also took strong objection against the Electricity department's suggestion to use the readings for the month of January and February. He said, "The reading of January and February when the MSMEs functioned in a full fledged manner is not representative of the functioning of the factories in April. In April all the MSMEs were practically shut down, without any production. It is therefore unfair to expect them to pay the same charges as January and February for March and April."
"Once the MSMEs begin functioning it can be discussed with the industry members whether the payment can be made in installments or if the electricity bill payments can be waived off. That will be a suitable approach", he suggested.
He therefore requested the Electricity department to make changes to the announcement made and make a fresh announcement regarding the payment of bills by the MSMEs.