Chennai, March 14 (IANS). Due to the ongoing war in West Asia, the supply of LPG has started getting affected. To deal with this situation, the Tamil Nadu government has taken a big decision.
The government has announced that hotels, tea shops and cloud kitchens which will use electric stoves instead of LPG cylinders will be given a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit on electricity.
This decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin. In the meeting, the problems being faced in LPG supply and its impact on hotels and small businesses were reviewed.
According to the official statement of the government, this electricity subsidy will continue till the restrictions on LPG cylinders are lifted. Its objective is that hotels and small businesses can temporarily start cooking on electric stoves and their costs do not increase too much.
To provide relief to the common people, the government has also decided to distribute 3,228 kiloliters of kerosene among the ration card holders.
To help small industries and businessmen, the government has also announced loan facility for purchasing electric stoves and heaters.
Under the Unemployed Youth Employment Generation Program (UYEGP) scheme, entrepreneurs will get 25 percent capital subsidy or maximum assistance of Rs 3.75 lakh. Similarly, under Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Scheme (TWEES), 25 percent subsidy or maximum assistance of Rs 2 lakh will be provided.
At the same time, under Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme (AABCS), 35 percent subsidy or maximum assistance up to Rs 1 crore will be given.
Officials said 60,698 factories in the state use fuels like LPG, CNG, diesel, furnace oil and wood.
Now these industries have been temporarily allowed to use alternative fuels like kerosene, RDF, high-speed diesel and biomass. For this there will be no need to take new permission from the Pollution Control Board.
The government has also taken care of the interests of the farmers. To ensure that farmers do not suffer losses if hotels operate less due to fuel shortage, they have been allowed to sell their produce without any restrictions in 194 Ujhawar Sandhai (Farmers’ Markets) in the state.
A state level committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to monitor the supply of LPG. At the same time, committees under the leadership of the District Collector will monitor the supply in the districts.
Tamil Nadu Hotels Association has welcomed this decision. Association President M. Venkadasubbu thanked the Chief Minister and said that this relief will be very helpful for the hotel industry. He also asked the government to consider providing property tax exemption and cheaper industrial electricity rates for the hotel sector.
He also suggested making a policy to allow hotels to use solar and wind energy and giving full net metering credit on electricity generated from rooftop solar.
–IANS
ASH/DKP
