Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced support $2 per unit of electricity for restaurants, hotels and cafes that switch to electric stoves instead of commercial liquefied gas cylinders to run their businesses.
Prime Minister M K Stalin has been holding review meetings since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, leading to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders for restaurants, the government said.
At the review meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to provide a subsidy $2 per unit for the additional electricity consumed by hotels, cafes and cloud kitchens using induction cooktops.
“This support will remain in place as long as the restrictions on commercial use of LPG announced by the Center remain in place,” Additional Chief Secretary G Radhakrishnan said.
He said in a press conference at the General Secretariat here that electricity consumption by hotel and restaurant owners has increased, with demand rising by about 50 megawatts above average in recent days.
Referring to the 60,698 factories operating in the state after getting approval from the State Pollution Control Board, Radhakrishnan, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, said that from now on, these factories do not need additional certificates from the Pollution Control Board to run their business for using alternative fuels like kerosene.
“They just have to inform the Pollution Control Board about the use of alternative fuels. This exemption will be in effect until the government restrictions end,” he said.
He pointed out that the Center gave priority to the supply of commercial gas cylinders to hospitals and educational institutions, and said that a state-level committee was formed under the leadership of the Secretary-General to monitor the systematic allocation of liquefied gas cylinders to commercial institutions.
“Similarly, a district level committee led by district collectors, including responsible officials from oil marketing companies, will monitor the situation locally,” he added.
To help MSMEs address the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, he said the government had announced loans to purchase electrical equipment such as induction stoves and heaters under the job creation program for unemployed youth.
Under this scheme, 25 per cent support will be provided to micro, small and medium enterprises.
Through the Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneurship Development Scheme, a subsidy of up to 25 per cent is provided $2 lakh for loans up to $He added that 10,000 will be provided.
To support the farming community and prevent interruption in vegetable sales due to lower demand from restaurants, Radhakrishnan said farmers will be allowed to sell their produce at 194 ‘Uzhavar Sandhais’ without any restrictions.
Radhakrishnan also said that orders have been issued to provide an additional 3,228 kilo liters of kerosene to family ration card holders under the public distribution system this month.
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