Political parties, civic organisations and peasant leaders vehemently opposed the proposals of hiking the power tariff at the public hearing conducted by Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) held at Sri Venkateswara Vignana Mandiram in the city on Thursday, as leaders of the Left parties staged a walkout protesting the move.
In all, 35 objections were submitted at the marathon hearing. However, the YSR Congress and the Congress representatives gave the public hearing a miss. Leading the protest, CPI (M) State secretary P. Madhu said that the State government was hell bent on hiking the power tariff and passing on the burden of the power purchases made in recent months to consumers. “There is no need to hike the charges. The APERC lacks credibility and it can’t stop the government from enforcing the hike,’’ alleged Mr. Madhu.
Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) Justice G. Bhavani Prasad said that they would consider to all the grievances and suggestions made at the hearing. He refused to elaborate further citing the model code of conduct in force for the poll to Guntur-Krishna Teacher MLC Constituency.The meeting witnessed some stormy moments too. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Guntur, convener Ramana Babu warned that the party would lead a civil disobedience movement, if the Discoms hike the power tariff. “We have done “the same in Delhi. People will not pay the bills and if their connections are cut, we will restore them,’’ Mr. Ramana warned.
State committee member of CPM, Ch. Babu Rao said that the government must immediately scrap the minimum tariff of Rs.50, waive off power arrears of SC/ST beneficiaries. He wondered as to why private players operating NTR Sujala mineral water plants were being charged Rs.4 per unit while the municipal corporations were being charged Rs.6.25 per unit.
