Surat: Leaders from the textile sector in Surat have demanded ‘one-nation-one-power tariff’ formula to be implemented in the country for providing level-playing filed to the entrepreneurs.
The suggestion was made before the union textile minister, Smriti Irani who had summoned industry leaders in New Delhi for suggestions and inputs for the National Textile Policy (NTP) on Monday.
Representatives from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), Synthetic and Rayon Textile Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA), Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI) and other textile associations from Maharashtra and Southern India were present at the meeting.
Sources said that the issue of power tariff is crucial when it comes to the competitiveness of the textile products manufactured in Surat. While the power tariff rates are in the range of Rs 3.50 per unit in the neighbouring Maharashtra, the textile entrepreneurs are paying Rs 7.50 per unit in Gujarat including Surat.
Chairman of FIASWI, Bharat Gandhi said, “Like the one-nation-one-tax, we demand one power tariff for the textile sector. This will allow the textile entrepreneurs from Gujarat to compete with other states. At present, the products manufactured by the units in Surat have a higher price range due to the increase in the production cost.”
Apart from power tariff, the textile industry leaders strongly represented the non-payment of the Input Tax Credit (ITC) under the GST to the textile unit owners by the Government, simplification of the process under the Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme, policy changes for the textile park scheme, providing subsidy for the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for environment protection to the textile mills etc.
Ashish Gujarati, powerloom industry leader said, “A slew of issues were discussed at the meeting. Our main demand was on the power tariff and the release of the ITC refund to the textile unit owner. Aboout Rs 1,350 crore worth of ITC is yet to be refunded by the government.”
Published On : 19-11-2019
Source : Times of India
