The Tamil Nadu government should provide 25% subsidy to Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) to install rooftop solar energy panels, said president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) M. Karthikeyan.

At a meeting in Chennai on Thursday with the Finance, IT, MSME and Industry Ministers, where representatives of 13 industrial associations submitted their demands, Mr. Karthikeyan pointed out that the State’s power requirement has been increasing by 8% to 12% each year. Instead of investing in additional power generation or purchase, the State could support MSMEs to adopt rooftop solar energy, which would help reduce power demand, he said.

Mr. Karthikeyan also urged the government to waive Memorandum of Deposit (MoD) charges for micro and small industries when registering documents for bank loans.

J. James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises, told The Hindu the State government should provide relief from the annual hike in property tax and electricity tariffs to the micro and cottage industries. It should also bring large-scale investments to Coimbatore in the manufacturing sector so that the job-working units get orders. He also proposed the creation of a welfare board for micro enterprises similar to the one for construction workers.

A. Sivakumar, president of the Coimbatore Tiruppur Districts Tiny and Micro Enterprises Association, highlighted the need for relief and support measures for micro units on solar energy and setting up of industrial estates.