Leaders of various associations led by Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), observed relay fast urging the government to improve power supply in the State.
Chamber founder Chukkapalli Kusalav inaugurated the relay fast camp, at PowerMech Compound, on M.G. Road, here on Saturday.
Industrialists J.G. Prasad, S. Ganesh, Chalasani Subba Rao, Parthasarathy, B.S. Koteswara Rao, V. Sudhakar Chowdary, M.V.L. Narayana, and K. Pattabhi Ram from A.P. Spinning Mills Association, Hotels Association, Film Exhibitors Association, A.P. Rice Millers Association, and others sat on relay fast on the first day.
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Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kusalav said the industries were facing severe problem owing to prolonged power shutdowns for the last one year. Several units were closed and some thousands of technicians and workers lost their jobs, he said.
A.P. Spinning Mills Association president G. Punnaiah Chowdary said the textile industry was suffering a lot due to power problem, and about 170 spinning mills were on the verge of closure in Guntur district.
Former MP Gadde Rammohan Rao, CPI (M) city secretary CH. Babu Rao, CPI leader D. Shankar, and others visited the camp and extended their support to fasting industrialists.
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Mr. Babu Rao said the small-scale industries were facing closure threat due to prolonged and indiscriminate power cuts.
The industries were facing acute power shortage as the government and the Southern Power Distribution Company Limited were unable to supply power even on half of the days in a month. The workers were losing their jobs.
Due to power holidays and power cuts, the jobs of 80,000 people working in Autonagar were in the doldrums. It will have a cascading effect on the city, he said and urged the government to initiate measures to bring down the power cut spell.
In the evening, the ACCI members, representatives of about 20 associations and leaders of various political parties organised a demonstration carrying lanterns protesting against poor power supply.