Industries urge Hescom to upgrade ageing network, improve power reliability
Belagavi: Growing concerns over inadequate power infrastructure prompted senior officials of the Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (Hescom) and representatives of major industrial associations to hold an emergency meeting in Belagavi on Thursday.
Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/power-infra-crunch-hits-belagavi-growth-industries-demand-action/articleshow/131663155.cms
The meeting, held at the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI), focused on the challenges industries face due to an ageing and overloaded power distribution network. Industrial leaders warned that power constraints could affect ongoing expansion plans and discourage future investments in the region.
Belagavi, regarded as Karnataka’s second-largest foundry hub and a major supplier to the automotive, aerospace and engineering sectors, has witnessed increasing demand for electricity from expanding industries and new MSME units.
Representatives from the Belgaum District Small Scale Industries Association (BDSSIA), BCCI, Laghu Udyog Bharati and other industry bodies highlighted the lack of sufficient power capacity in industrial areas such as Udyambag, Machhe and Kanbaragi. They stated that existing substations and transformers are operating close to their maximum capacity, making it difficult to meet rising industrial demand.
Industry leaders also demanded dedicated power stations and separate industrial feeders to ensure uninterrupted power supply. Frequent voltage fluctuations and unexpected power tripping, they said, are damaging expensive machinery, disrupting production schedules and causing significant financial losses, particularly for foundry units.
Apart from infrastructure concerns, industrialists raised issues related to Hescom’s billing and customer service systems. They sought better digital payment facilities, including POS machines at sub-divisional offices, and improvements in grievance redressal mechanisms, citing delayed responses and ineffective complaint handling.
Responding to the concerns, Hescom’s Superintendent Engineer assured stakeholders that the utility recognises Belagavi’s importance to Karnataka’s industrial economy. He announced that a comprehensive technical survey of major industrial zones would be conducted and modernisation measures would be accelerated to improve supply reliability and reduce outages.
Industry representatives stressed that strengthening power infrastructure is essential for sustaining Belagavi’s industrial growth and maintaining its position as one of Karnataka’s leading manufacturing hubs.
Read also : Urgent Revision Exercise Reveals 3 Lakh Unmapped Voters in Belagavi
