TAPMA Demands Uniform Power Holiday
The Tamil Nadu Pumps and Spares Manufacturers Association (TAPMA) has appealed to the State Government to avoid discriminatory treatment to the indigenous industries while pampering the multinationals.R.Kalynansundaram, its president, pointed out in a statement here that the State was facing severe power cut. Apart from two hour daily power cut, the industries had been prohibited from using power from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, every Saturday had been declared as “power holiday.”Apart from demanding withdrawal of power cut, the association pleaded for a uniform power holiday all over Combatore District on Sunday. In this connection, it had planned to organise a demonstaaration in Coimbatore on August 4.He also submitted that the members of the association had been facing serious strain because of the huge rise in prices of all raw materials, including iron and steel. As against the price of Rs. 24,000 a tonne of pig iron during July last year, the current price was Rs. 40,500. Similarly, the price of casting had shot up from Rs. 35,000 a tonne to Rs. 57,000. Stainless steel rod weighing 1 kg, which was quoted at Rs. 54 last year, was now ruling around Rs. 90. Besides, the price of copper, which was Rs. 390 a kg, had now shot up to Rs. 460.
Because of the increase in price of raw materials and also petroleum products, a large number of small units might have to close down thus rendering thousands of workers jobless. Hence he pleaded for appropriate action by both the Union and State Governments to reduce the prices of raw materials.Pointing out that the manufacturers had to pay Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 per annum for obtaining ISI mark, he said. this had resulted in some of the small units with three or four ISI licences to shell out lakhs of rupees in this regard.Hence, he appealed to the Government to club all the pumps under one single licence that could be obtained at a nominal fee.
