Nagpur’s industrial fraternity, on April 7, felicitated Guardian Minister and Minister for Energy, New and Renewable Energy Chandrashekhar Bawankule at VIA Bhavan, Nagpur. The members of different industrial associations of the city were present during the felicitation function organized keeping in mind the policies framed by the government, which benefited industries in Vidarbha region immensely, which are conducive to growth and development of industries and also supported the cause of industries against ban on plastics. 

Bawankule was felicitated by 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 and Traders Association (VDTA), Packaged Drinking Water Association (PDWA), Nagpur Hotel Owners Association (NHOA), DICCI (Vidharbha Chapter), Kalmeshwar Industries  MIDC  Association,  Nagpur Wholesale Hosiery and Readymade Garment Merchants Association, Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association,   Lady Entrepreneurs’ Wing (LEW) and Mahila Gruh Udyog.

Speaking to the people present, the Guardian Minister said, When our government came in power, along with CM, my first priority was to develop industries in our region. The immediate solution to boost industrial development was to reduce to cost of power in MIHAN from Rs 12 to Rs 4.5. The decision led to development in MIHAN. The reduced cost of power brought a lot of new investments and defunct industries started operating again thereby generating employment.

Bawankule further added, We knew that reduced power cost is the only thing in this region which could promote industrialization. Working in the same direction, we planned long term renewable energy source though solar and wind with the name – Chief Minister Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana. We have planned to generate 5000 MW of Solar power till 2022 and by 2019 – 2000 MW will be installed. 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 after two or three years because of renewable energy policy in the state, we will be surplus with respect to power.

Speaking about the state of farmers in Vidarbha, the minister said, Farmers of Vidarbha are in dilemma and very concerned as we have given relief to the industries in power sector. I appeal all the industrialists to please come forward and help by means of their CSR funds in schemes like Jalyukt Shivar promoted by the CM.  Later, Girdhari Mantri, (Chairman, VIA CSR Forum) gave a presentation on work done by VIA under Jalyut Shivar Scheme.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who helms the annual Koradi Festival, speaking about the festival said, Government has been helpful in developing Koradi Temple as a tourist destination of Maharashtra and has sanctioned Rs 210 crore for the development of this pilgrimage centre. This will attract tourist from all over and the region economy will get a boost.  A short video clipping about the development of Koradi Temple was also shown.

Ramesh Mantri, Director, The National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd (NAFCUB) also addressed the people present and informed about the difficulties being faced presently and 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 and ultimately affects the employment like it did recently after a government notification to ban plastics. The notification not only affected the plastic industries but almost 80% of industries of Maharashtra. He urged that the notification should be immediately withheld and proper input by forming a committee of the stakeholders should be considered and a coercive method should be applied to save the environment.

Prashant Mohta (Ex-Vice President, VIA) through a presentation said that energy subsidy given to industries for three years will be coming to an end very soon and that industries should get power subsidy for another 5 years or long term.  He urged that if power subsidy is given, it will bring investment in Vidarbha and Marathwada.   

Pravin Tapadia (Past President, VIA) also informed about difficulties being faced by industries due to state government’s ban on plastics. He further said that sectors such as automobiles and aviation are dependent on plastics and sudden ban on plastics by government badly affected plastic industries. Tapadia informed that in China, there is a ban on paper and plastic is widely used. He stressed upon the need of creating civic sense amongst masses about plastic waste management and said that the 2006 notification regarding ban on less than 50 micron plastic carry bags should be seriously adopted.