Golaghat-based North Eastern Tea Association (Neta) has expressed concern over power tariff hike which will affect the industry which is already reeling under a severe crisis.

The Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), vide their advertisement dated December 27, has proposed to hike electricity tariff on fixed charge and energy charge.

There are separate categories for tea, coffee and rubber. The tariff of the tea category is third highest after oil and coal sectors.

The APDCL has proposed to increase tariff in the coming financial year 2020-2021 in all categories. In the tea category, it has proposed to increase fixed charge from Rs 250 to Rs 320, a hike of 28 per cent and energy charge from Rs 7.15 per unit to Rs 8.75 per unit, a hike of 22.3 per cent.

“The Assam tea industry is already under threat due to adverse market scenario which is prevailing for the last few years. Such a steep hike of fixed charge and energy charge on electricity consumption will be detrimental for the Assam tea industry which is already under tremendous strain due to hike of input costs and low realisation of tea prices,” Neta adviser Bidyananda Barkakoty said.

“Tea being an agricultural commodity providing employment opportunities to largescale rural population in Assam, the need of the hour is to support this agriculture-based rural industry. We understand the need to hike electricity tariff by the APDCL. The hike should be as per cost inflation on all commodities; otherwise, such an abnormal hike will adversely affect the ailing tea industry of

Assam. We request the intervention of chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal in this regard,” Barkakoty said.