THE issue of higher power tariff is linked to industrial survival, and also to the development of industrially backward region like Vidarbha, which, ironically, is hub of electricity generation in the State. Comparison of data brings out the situation with better clarity. The Kelkar Committee report on balanced regional development in Maharashtra had cited data from the Economic Survey of Maharashtra for the year 2011-12. The data was about number of industrial units in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas, investment, and employment in Rest of Maharashtra (RoM), Marathwada, and Vidarbha regions.

 

As per the data, Vidarbha had the least number of industrial units. The number of industrial units in MIDC areas in Vidarbha constituted only 12.3 per cent of total industrial units in Maharashtra. RoM had 74.3 per cent share, and Marathwada had 13.4 per cent share in number of industrial units in the State. As far as investment in these areas was concerned, the investment in RoM was 74.6 per cent, and that in Vidarbha was 17.4 per cent only. The investment in Marathwada region constituted only 8 per cent of that in MIDC areas in the State. The employment in units in MIDC areas in RoM constituted 83.8 per cent of total such employment in the State. Vidarbha, then, had only 10.2 per cent share in this respect, and Marathwada’s share was only 6 per cent. The situation has changed, but the comparative status of Vidarbha has not. As per the latest Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2023-24, of total number of industrial units in MIDC areas in the State, 57.95 per cent are located in Pune and Nashik divisions only. Marathwada has 23.86 per cent of such industrial units, and Vidarbha is at the bottom of the chart with only 18.18 per cent of such industrial units.

 

Thus, Vidarbha continues to be at the bottom in Maharashtra in terms of industrial units in MIDC areas. In terms of investment, Pune and Nashik put together have 74.16 per cent of total investment in State’s MIDC areas, but Vidarbha region’s share is only 21.65 per cent in this regard. Marathwada’s share is even lower -- 4.18 per cent. On employment count, percentage share of Pune and Nashik divisions is 31 per cent, but that of Vidarbha region is 28.4 per cent. Marathwada, though, has better share of 40.86 per cent when it comes to employment generation through labour-intensive limited industries in MIDC areas there. As has been stated by various industry bodies in their memorandums and reports, higher power tariff for industries is a major reason behind slow industrial growth even in a power-producing region like Vidarbha. Obviously, this seems to be affecting generation of employment too. It also calls for providing lower tariffs for industries in Vidarbha to boost development of this industrially backward power-producing region. (To be continued)