Shortage of power, steep tariff driving away industries
SHILLONG: The Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP), Byrnihat is almost abandoned with only a few units currently operating due to acute shortage of power supply and the issues related to financial viability of many units.
The Public Undertakings Committee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly headed by its Chairman, Salseng C. Marak, was shocked on witnessing the sorry state of affairs at EPIP during a recent spot inspection.
After visiting several industrial units of the area to have a firsthand knowledge of problems prevailing there in terms of local employment, revenue to government, hardships being faced by the units and others, the Committee was surprised to know that once a flourishing industrial area, the EPIP now has only a few units.
The Committee was made to understand that, prima facie, the reasons were due to acute shortage of power supply in the last few years with steep increase in the tariff every year. This had had crippled the financial viability of all the steel units especially the Ferro units.
No new units have ventured in the park due to poor infrastructure and very high power tariffs.
The delegation also enquired about the employment of locals in the units and the revenue being generated for the government.
It was found that by and large the units employed local residents of the nearby areas in the plants and were paying taxes to the government as applicable.
The delegation also visited the Ferro units, GI pipe manufacturing units, lamination and steel units, among others.
However, the members were impressed with the functioning of CMJ Breweries Private Ltd. after a spot visit and appreciated its functioning with a professional approach.
The Assembly Committee was accompanied by officers from the Directorate of Industries, MIDC, MeECL and the officers from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board.
Earlier, the delegation interacted with owners of several units and also the Confederation of Industries of Meghalaya to understand the growth of the industries in the belt.
