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| Small industries hit hard by power hike |
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| SIALKOT (PPI): Following the recent increase in the power tariff small industries of Sialkot suffered a lot and resulted into the closure of small industries.
Most of the local cottage industrial units (including small industrial units of agricultural implements, surgical instruments and auto parts manufacturing, workshops and flour grinding places (Aatta Chakies) have been closed in Sialkot district's all the four Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils due to new and enhanced tariff of electricity recently introduced by the Gujranwala Electricity Power Company (Gepco).
Due to this critical situation, the hundreds of the daily waged workers and labourers were being terminated by the owners due to the closure of their businesses.
With the recent increase, the power tariff has reached to Rs. 106.96 per unit for the above mentioned small industrial units. The Gepco has changed this power tariff and converted 20 Kilowatts to 5 Kilowatts on B-II instead of B-I.
The Gepco has also reportedly affixed as many as 300 MDI power meters (which were used for the furnace industries) on the small industrial units by removing their small capacity power meters.
Through this way, the Gepco has imposed the power tariff meant for big industrial units on the small cottage industrial units, which have the power connections of only 5 Kilowatts.
Recent increase in power tariffs has made a 2000 percent increase in the power tariff for the small industrial units using the 5 Kilowatts electricity connections. Due to which, the per unit cost of electricity has been jumped to Rs.107 per units from Rs.26 per unit power, amazingly. |
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