A group of industry owners, representing the micro and small-scale sector, met the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M.K. Stalin here on Sunday and explained the problems faced by the units.
“We spent about 45 minutes with him and he told us that he would take up our issues in the Assembly,” said S. Ravikumar, president of Coimbatore Tirupur District Tiny and Micro Enterprises Association.
Representatives of five industrial associations met Mr. Stalin and explained to him that with decline in orders, industries were operating at just 50 per cent capacity.
The power tariff for these units has increased by 100 per cent in the last three years. Industries that were paying about Rs. 4, 000 towards electricity bill are now paying nearly Rs. 8,000 and their orders have only dropped.
Similarly, the loans extended to the units by Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation are for seven years and at almost 14 per cent interest.
Job orders
“One of our demands is loans should be given to micro units at 10 per cent interest, with longer repayment period,” Mr. Ravikumar said. Since these units do mainly job orders, they will not be able to pay higher interest rates.
