YSRCP warns Govt of stir on power hike

Hyderabad, January 5: Strongly
opposing the State Government’s move to further increase the power charges, YSR
Congress has said that it will go to the people to mount pressure on reversing
any such move.

“The government proposal to
increase the power charges to net Rs 10,000 Cr is being sent to the State
Power Regulatory Commission and when the matter comes up for public hearing we
will sternly oppose the move and toe the agitation path,” the party
spokesperson Janak Prasad told reporters here on Saturday.

The Kiran Kumar Reddy government
has already burdened the consumer with Rs 17,000 Cr during 2012-13 and it
has sent a proposal to mop up Rs 10,000 Cr during 2013-14 which speaks of
the indifference the state has towards people, he said.

YSR did not hike power charges
since 2004 and has promised that there would be no hike till 2009, but after
his death the Congress government has increased the charges and in an unprecedented
move has started collecting the arrears in the form of Fuel Surcharge
Adjustment (FSA), he said.

 “Now it has sent the proposal to
hike power charges again and the Regulatory Commission, despite being
autonomous, has been acting as per the directions of the State Government. When
the issue comes up for public hearing we will oppose it, “he said.

The Government has been trying to
cover up its inefficiency by passing on the burden to consumers instead of
taking steps to increase the production and convincing the Centre to increase
its share of gas allotment, he said.

With severe power cuts,
industries are being closed down and many people are rendered jobless and the
steep hike in power charges is been affecting cottage industries as well
besides farmers and students.

All sectors, domestic,
industrial, agriculture and cottage industries are badly affected. With the
main opposition TDP opting to side with Congress, YSR Congress as a responsible
opposition party, will take up agitation on the power charges issue, he added.