The Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has opposed the penal charges and fuel surcharge adjustment on power used by consumers.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, ACCI president Muthvarapu Muralikrishna said that the Southern Power Distribution Company of AP had imposed the penal charges without rhyme or reason. None in the SPDCL could explain the basis and formula adopted for calculation of penal charges, which has crossed lakhs of rupees for every industrialist.
The MSME sector which employs 9 lakh to 10 lakh people in the state requires 495 MW. The Government, however, was able to provide only 230 MW.
The industry was running at half of its capacity and was in doldrums due to severe power shortage. Over and above this the Government has imposed power holidays in addition to the power cuts.
The restrictions and control measures upped the ante, he said. The Government, it seems, has no intention to save the industry.
The fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) and penal charges have hit below the belt, he added.
The industry was left with no other option but to close down its units if the Government did not respond positively, he said, adding, the ACCI would launch an agitation shortly.
The ACCI power committee convener JSRK Prasad, member P. Parthasarathy and others spoke.
