Nag-Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) the organization representing the traders of Vidarbha in a memorandum submitted to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has demanded reduction in security deposit amount which had been doubled recently. President of NVCC Ashwin Mehadia has stated that in the last nine months following COVID-19 induced lockdown, common people and traders have been facing unprecedented financial difficulties. Traders are facing countless problems like shop rent; bank EMIs, salary of employees, power and telephone bills and personal expenses of families.
During pandemic, the MSEDCL hiked power tariff and also moved a proposal to double security deposit. Vice-president of NVCC and convenor of Energy Committee Farooq Akbani said that as compared to existing power tariff in neighbouring states, the same in Maharashtra are much higher which has had an adverse impact on trade and business of Nagpur. As a result, industries of Maharashtra are being shifted to neighbouring States including Madhya Pradesh. This has created hurdles in economic progress of Maharashtra. Secretary of NVCC Ramavatar Totla said MERC in the present situation instead of doubling power tariff should give rebate in it and also bring down fixed charges.
