Members of The Andhra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), and other allied associations will observe relay fasts, to highlight the problems of industries owing to prolonged power-cuts.
The three-day relay fasts will be launched at Powermeck Compound, on M.G. Road, from September 22 to 24. A representation would be submitted to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy during Indiramma Baata on power-cuts, said the ACCI president Muttavarapu Muralikrishna.
Speaking to the newsmen here on Friday, he said the small and medium industries were facing severe trouble due to lengthy power shutdowns. Though the owners of the industries were ready to pay additional amount, government was not in a position to supply power according to the demand.
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Government was issuing circulars indiscriminately and was collecting electricity duty on captive power generation and Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel and power backup systems. Unable to pay the salaries and run the units with huge expenses, a few managements had closed the industries leading to unemployment problem, said Mr. Muralikrishna.
Rally
Andhra Pradesh Small Industries president B.V.K. Rama Rao said the industrialists will observe relay fasts from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On September 24, the owners and workers of various industries and factories would take out a rally from Autonagar Technicians Association Hall to Collector’s office, he said.
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Andhra Pradesh Federation of Timber Merchants Saw Millers and Allied Industries vice-president Chalasani Subba Rao, ACCI member J.S.R.K. Prasad and others spoke and expressed support to the agitation.