The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP, Left decry power tariff hike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP, Left decry power tariff hike

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG.4. The Telugu Desam Party today accused the Congress of "dishonouring" its pre-election promise not to increase power tariff. The TDP also alleged that the Congress "misled" people by asking them to be prepared for a tariff hike if the former came to power.

At a press conference here, the party spokesman -- R. Chandrasekhar Reddy, MP, and general secretary, R. Prakash Reddy -- demanded that the Congress tender an apology to people for "cheating them."

`Cascading effect'

They alleged that the 75 days of Congress rule was marked by suicides of about 900 farmers, attacks on TDP activists and transfers all around.

The power tariff hike and increase in the prices of petrol and diesel would have a cascading effect on the prices of other commodities and would burden people, they pointed out.

The TDP leaders stated that the party had already taken up an agitation against the Government's "anti-people" policies by staging dharnas in Mahabubnagar and Warangal districts.

`Burden on people'

The two Communist parties -- the CPI (M) and the CPI -- criticised the Government for agreeing to a proposal to increase the power tariff which, they said, would burden people. While the CPI (M) suggested withdrawal of the hike till the Government undertook a review of the power sector in the State, the CPI wanted its immediate withdrawal.

The secretary of the CPI(M) State committee, B.V. Raghavulu, in a statement faulted the Government for agreeing to a proposal to increase the tariff by 8.34 paise per unit in the name of fuel surcharge.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh