Nagpur: Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA), Vidarbha Plastic Industries Association (VPIA), Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC), MIDC Industries Association (MIA), Butibori Manufacturers Association (BMA), Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB), Vidarbha Disposable & Traders Association (VDTA), Packaged Drinking Water Association (PDWA), Nagpur Hotel Owners Association (NHOA), DICCI (Vidharbha Chapter), Kalmeshwar Industries MIDC Association, The Nagpur Wholesale Hosiery & Readymade Garment Merchants Assn, Wholesale Cloth Merchants Assn, Lady Entrepreneurs’ Wing (LEW) & Mahila Gruh Udyog felicitated Chandrashekha Bawankule, Minister for Energy, New & Renewable Energy & Guardian Minister for Nagpur District, Govt of Maharashtra today at VIA because all industrial fraternity and industries of Associations of Vidarbha region immensely benefited for formulating policies which are conducive to growth and development of industries and also supported the cause of industries against Ban on Plastics.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule said when our Government came in power, Chief Minister along with his Energy Minister our first priority was to develop industries in our region. For this, we had only one option to boost industrial development that was the immediate solution and with this reduction in power in MIHAN from Rs.12 to Rs.4.50, which gave momentum for development of MIHAN, on the same basis the power subsidy was granted to the region of Vidarbha and Marathwada. This helped in reducing the power cost by around 1.75 paisa, because of this lot of new investments came to this region and also industries which were closed were restarted and generated the employment.
He said we know that power is the only thing in this region which could work and cost work to promote industrialization. In this direction, we worked the power cost was high because of cross subsidy given to farmers, for this we had planned long term renewable energy source though solar and wind in the name of “Chief Minister Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana.” We had planned 5000 MW of Solar Power till 2022 and by 2019 – 2000 MW will be installed and we are confident that the cross subsidy on power tariff will reduce drastically, which is right now Rs.3/-. This will reduce the power cost in the State. May be in future after 2 or 3 years because of renewable energy policy in the State, we will be surplus in power, may the power cost will be drastically gone down and we will have to search for consumers.
Government has been helpful in developing Koradi Temple as a ‘Tourist Destination of Maharashtra’ and sanctioned Rs.210 Crores for the development of this pilgrimage centre. This will attract tourist from all over so economy of this region will get a boost.
He said farmers of Vidarbha are in dilemma and very concerned about as we have given relief to the industries in power sector as a Minister, we appeal all the industrialists to please come forward and help by means of their CSR funds in schemes like Jalyukt Shivar promoted by the Chief Minister. A short video clipping was also shown on development of Koradi Mandir.
Ramesh Mantri, Director, The National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd. (NAFCUB) also addressed the gathering and informed about the difficulties being faced will be faced by industries due to hike in power tariff because of the end of the subsidy in 2019, he suggested the Minister to make a long term provision in the Budget for minimum 7 years so that the industries can sustain. He also requested to take into confidence the industries while framing any notifications which effects the industrial sector which ultimately affects the employment like it had happened in a recently Government Notification on Ban on Plastics, this notification has not only affected the plastic industries but almost 80% of industries of Maharashtra. This Notification should be immediately withheld and proper input by forming a committee of the stakeholders should be considered and coercive method should be applied to save the environment.
Girdhari Mantri, Chairman – VIA CSR Forum made presentation on work done by VIA under Jalyut Shivar Scheme.
Pravin Tapadia, Past President VIA also informed about difficulties being faced by industries due to State Government move on Ban on Plastics. He further said all sectors such as Automobiles, Aviation are dependent on plastics and sudden GR related to Ban on Plastics badly affected plastic industries. He said in China Country there is Ban on Paper and plastic is widely used there. We have to create civic sense amongst masses about plastic waste management. We should seriously implement 2006 Notification regarding Ban on less than 50 micron plastic carry bags.
Prashant Mohota, Ex-Vice President – VIA in the presentation said Energy Subsidy given to industries for 3 years will be coming to an end very soon and it is a demand of all industries, industry should get power subsidy for another 5 years or long term. If Power subsidy will be given, investment will be coming in Vidarbha and Marathwada.
On this occasion he also recognized and welcomed the contributors of Jalyut Shivar at the hands .
Earlier, all industrial fraternity and industries of Associations welcomed Chandrashekhar Bawankule with shawl-shreephal & bouquets. Atul Pande, President – VIA in his welcome address said lots of problems being faced by industries and Energy Minister formulated such policies which are conducive to growth and development of industries and also supported the cause of industries against Ban on Plastics and having lots of ambiguity on it. Program was conducted by Dr Suhas Buddhe, Hon. Secretary – VIA. Formal vote of thanks was proposed by VPIA.
Prominenly present were Rajesh Batwani, Sunil Kabra, Harish Mantri, Damodar Sarda, Jitendra Kurvey, Dilip Murarka, Trustees of Koradi Temple – Bajaj, Bhoyar, Sharma, Ar Nishikant Bhiwagade.
