Bengal to export mangoes to Dubai
Kolkata, June 9: West Bengal has produced around nine lakh tonnes of mangoes this year and is also set to export them to Dubai and Hong Kong, said a senior minister on Saturday.
The produce comes despite the inclement weather and the fruit's consumption remains unaffected by the scare of the Nipah virus.
"This year's mango production in West Bengal was almost around nine lakh tonnes, despite the fact that some mangoes were destroyed due to the rains. One can say the production was good this year," said Abdur Razzak Molla, Minister-in-charge of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, West Bengal.
The Nipah virus had spread panic across the country and badly affected the mango trade in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
"The mango producers or say the mango lovers in our state are not really affected by the scare of Nipah virus. They are consuming the fruit with same eagerness," said Molla.
Mollah said the state government is exploring the export possibilities of the fruit to the Middle East, Europe and South East Asian countries.
"This year, the mango producers have made export connections with Hong-Kong. Under the government's initiative, mangoes will be exported to Dubai in bulk," he revealed.
According to Mollah, if the quality is good then bulks of export are expected after Eid.
Molla's department along with the Indian Chamber of Commerce has organised a three-day long Bengal Mango Utsav 2018 that began on Friday.
Special varieties of mangoes from Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Malda and other places will be available at the Utsav. The public can enjoy the fruit and other products from here.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
