Small and medium industries extend support to power bandh on April 9

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME) will support the bandh on April 9 called by the Left parties to protest against the state government’s decision to increase the power tariff and its refusal to withdraw the hike,

FSME president  APK Reddy said in a statement here on Saturday that members of the federation would go on a day’s hunger strike on April 8 from 10 am. to 6 pm in support of the bandh.

The venue will be the Charlapally Small Industries Association’s building in Phase-II at Charlapally. Members of the federation, who represent various industry associations, will join the fast to express their support to the bandh and to protest against the state government’s indifference towards the problems of the MSME sector.

The problems include imposition of almost 40 per cent power cuts on small industries, restrictions, levying of penalties of Rs 1 crore and increasing the power tariff.

The federation demands immediate withdrawal of the 40 per cent power cuts on the MSME sector which are severely affecting their functioning and leading to closure of hundreds of small units and loss of jobs to lakhs of workers. It wants withdrawal of the penalties as also the increase in the power tariff, immediate restoration of the LT-III (B) category and a separate property structure for industries.

The federation feels that the state’s industrial scenario has been ruined because of the mismanagement of the power sector by the AP Transco, Discoms and AP Electricity Regulatory Commission.