The State government’s decision to release all the pending subsidies at one go has come as a major relief to the industries which had incurred huge losses during the Hudhud cyclone in the north Andhra region.
The industry sector is said to have suffered losses to the tune of Rs. 98 crore in Srikakulam district alone. Many industries could not get compensation from insurance companies as they were not insured.
They approached the government seeking immediate relief. The government said that it was not possible to pay compensation for losses, but promised to release the pending subsidies. Usually, subsidies are released after a thorough inquiry and it takes even a few years in many cases. A seven-member committee constituted by the government had looked into their grievances and interacted with all stakeholders. Responding to its suggestions, Industries and Commerce Principal Secretary J.S.V. Prasad has issued orders to this affect, benefiting around 250 industries in North Andhra region.
Srikakulam District Industrial Central General Manager B. Gopala Krishna has already received the orders and the same was informed to various industries. Each industry in the district would get up to Rs. 20 lakh as subsidy amount.
“The government will pay up to Rs. 50, 000 as outright relief to small scale units which were registered with us. The APIIC will take up repair works for industrial park, helping the industries to resume production, if it got stopped for the last two months,” Mr. Gopala Krishna said.
Power ‘sop’The government has asked the electricity department not to collect even the minimum charges from industries, since they could not run the units due to heavy damage after the cyclone. It is also considered as a major relief since normal charges would also run into lakhs for many industries in the district.
