Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Industrial bodies in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have demanded a reduction of ₹5 per unit in electricity tariffs, citing rising production costs amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, officials said on Saturday.

Earlier this week, the district administration asked industrial associations to submit a list of their demands, which was later presented to state Industries Minister Uday Samant during a meeting.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a major industrial hub in the Marathwada region, hosts automobile, engineering, pharmaceutical and steel industries. The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted fuel supplies and pushed up production costs.

Samant said on Thursday that industries in the city currently have gas reserves sufficient for three to 12 days but emphasised that industrial operations should continue without disruption.

In their memorandum, the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) and the Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA), among other organisations, sought a ₹5-per-unit cut in electricity tariffs.

The associations said the surge in raw material prices has increased production costs, and lowering electricity tariffs would provide relief to industries already affected by the West Asia conflict.

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They also demanded a moratorium on loan repayments, the release of pending aid and subsidies, and faster approvals for the use of alternative fuels.