FOGWA to meet CM Vijay Rupani over power tariff issue today

SURAT: Chief minister Vijay Rupani is learnt to have summoned office-bearers of Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Welfare Association (FOGWA) to discuss electricity tariff issue raised by weavers.


A FOGWA delegation will be meeting the chief minister in Gandhinagar on Friday.

FOGWA office-bearers stated that the new textile policy under formulation needs a better understanding of the textile policy framed by Maharashtra government and benefits provided to textile entrepreneurs, including reduced power tariff, there.

Many entrepreneurs, especially embroidery and power loom weavers, have shifted their base from Surat and south Gujarat to Navapur and Tarapur in Maharashtra. The electricity tariff for textile units in Maharashtra comes at Rs3.50 per unit, whereas it is Rs7.50 per unit in Gujarat.

Two days ago, FOGWA had written to JN Singh, chief secretary to the government of Gujarat, for organizing a joint study tour to the industrial clusters of Navapur and Tarapur in Maharashtra. Also, copies of the electricity bills of unit owners in Maharashtra were sent to him.

FOGWA president Ashok Jirawala told TOI, “We are demanding power tariff at par with Maharashtra from Gujarat government. We hope that the meeting convened by chief minister on Friday will yield positive results for the power loom weaving sector.”

Many small weaving units have downed their shutters in the last one-and-a-half-year as grey fabric manufactured in Navapur and Tarapur are comparatively cheaper than Surat, Umbergaon and Ahmedabad. Hence, power loom weavers have been looking at Gujarat government for policy changes.