Adityapur industrial area. A Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, Feb. 24: Peeved about the acute power crisis, industrialists at Adityapur and Gamharia industrial zone have decided to stop payment of bill to Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB).

Adityapur Small Industries Association took the decision at a closed-door meeting last evening.

They would stop paying bills from Monday.

The industrial body decided to continue with their agitation till there is an improvement in the power scenario.

“We have given enough time to JSEB to streamline power supply at the industrial zone of Adityapur, which houses more than 700 units. But, the situation is getting worse,” said S.N. Thakur, the president of Adityapur Small Industries Association.

Over 300 industrialists would participate in a protest rally, which would be taken out in Adityapur tomorrow. The rally will culminate near Aiada Bhavan.

The industrial belt in Adityapur is presently getting 40-60MW power against a minimum requirement of 100MW. “This has severely hampered our production especially in the ancillary units of Tata Motors,” said an industrialist.

Most of the industrial units is incurring loss because of power crisis. Use of diesel generator is taking a toll on the operation cost in large-scale units.

In the absence of sufficient power supply, industries would be forced to close down.

“Moreover, industries are failing to meet the demands of their clients and are losing contracts,” said Thakur, adding that in absence of power supply there is no work and hence factory owners have sacked several casual labourers.

Moreover, around 10-12 industrialists are taking power from Jusco, which recently started power supply in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district. But, the company is not able to provide sufficient power to meet the needs of all industrial houses.

Though the industrial sector has been facing the power crisis for the past few months but the sudden tube leakage at unit II of Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Limited on February 21 has worsened the situation.

The power supply sources of JSEB are — Patratu Thermal Power Station generating 100MW power, 100-125MW from Damodar Valley Corporation and 100-130MW from central grids.

“We are trying to get some more power from other agencies. Work in unit II of Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Limited is also under way. Even the chief minister, Madhu Koda, visited the unit two days ago and instructed officials to expedite the repair work and hopefully by the end of March, the situation would get better,” said S.N. Choudhary, the member (distribution) at JSEB.