Pfutsero business body seeks affordable power tariff, reliable supply

Pfutsero, September 12 (MExN): The Pfutsero Town Business Association (PTBA) has expressed serious concern over the high electricity tariff applicable to commercial establishments, saying it is placing an additional financial burden on the business community amid rising operating costs.

In a press statement, the association has urged the Department of Power, Government of Nagaland, to review the existing commercial electricity tariff and consider a more business-friendly and affordable tariff structure.

Stating that electricity is an essential input for almost every business, the association said the government should consider appropriate support, relief measures and subsidy mechanisms so that the cost of electricity does not adversely affect small businesses, traders and local entrepreneurs.

The PTBA also highlighted the prolonged inconvenience faced by the business community and the general public in Pfutsero due to recurring failures and unreliability of the existing 33 KV power supply through the Meluri line.

Frequent power interruptions have affected business operations, increased operating costs, disrupted services and caused considerable hardship to consumers, it said.

"The community has endured these difficulties for decades, and the matter now requires urgent and sustained government attention," the association said.

In this regard, the PTBA has strongly urged the Department of Power to fast-track the completion and commissioning of the 132 KV sub-station at Rikizu, Pfutsero, and make the system fully functional at the earliest, with a target of achieving reliable and uninterrupted power supply by November 2026.

The association said completion of the critical power infrastructure would significantly strengthen the electricity network of Pfutsero and surrounding areas and provide a much-needed foundation for sustainable commercial and economic growth.

The business community and the general public have shown considerable patience for decades despite repeated power-related difficulties, the PTBA said, urging the government and concerned authorities to treat reliable electricity supply and affordable commercial tariffs as matters of top priority. 

It said electricity was an essential requirement for local economic development, employment generation and the sustainability of businesses.

The PTBA expressed hope that the concerns raised by the business community would receive urgent and positive consideration from the government and concerned authorities.