: The State-wide dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Odisha Power Consumers’ Federation in protest against power tariff hike evoked a good response across Odisha on Tuesday.
The hartal demanding a rollback of the power tariff hike order passed by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) was supported by different Opposition parties including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India(Marxist), Communist Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation.
A large number of political leaders, social activists, trade union activists led by federation president and former Minister Panchanan Kanungo were taken into custody while enforcing the hartal on the streets. They were released subsequently.
The hartal affected normal life in many areas as passenger buses remained off the road and petrol pumps remained closed during most part of the day. Train services were partially affected during the morning hours.
Even as the Odisha Government has announced that it would file a review petition before the OERC seeking a rollback of the tariff hike pertaining to agriculture, the federation is demanding a complete rollback of the tariff hike order of OERC terming it as “illogical”.
The federation is also demanding an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of the accounts of power distribution companies in Odisha.
The OERC has passed an order for increase in electricity tariff by 20 paise per unit for domestic consumers and 40 paise per unit in case of agriculture with effect from April 1.
The federation and the Opposition parties have announced to continue their agitation till the power tariff hike is revoked.
Correspondent reports from Cuttack
Responding to the call given by Bidyut Upabhokta Mahasangha, several political parties and outfits staged protest demonstrations in the city on Tuesday demanding a complete rollback of the proposed power tariff hike in Odisha.
The Mahasangha had given a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh. But it had very little impact in Cuttack as many public utilities and essential services were exempt from the day-long bandh.
However, the activists of Left parties and Congress party supported the bandh call and staged dharnas in front of the key government and power distribution company offices condemning the proposed power tariff hike.
Hundreds of SUCI activists picketed the CESU office at Ranihat where the speakers condemned the unrealistic power tariff hike proposal. Recalling the days of Congress rule when power distribution in Odisha was privatised by dismantling the then State Electricity Board, the speakers were critical about the move.
“Handing over power distribution to private companies for quality electricity at affordable prices was the greatest mistake committed by the power-surplus State government”, the speakers said adding that the poor power consumers are now suffering because of the blunders committed by these companies.
Similarly, activists of CPM and Congress parties also staged demonstrations demanding complete rollback of the announced power tariff hike.
