Amidst protests against proposals for hiking power charges, the Public hearing organized by the A P Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) at FAPCCI, in city on Monday, has been suspended.
Leaders of different opposition parties turned up for the public hearing, stoutly opposed the power tariff hike proposals and agitated against it. TDP leaders Revantha Reddy, Mothkupalli Narsimhlu and Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu, TRS leader Harish Rao and others rushed to the podium and expressed their resentment at the hike proposals. They made it clear they would not keep quiet if the power charges were hiked. As the leaders were in a no mood to relent, the officials have suspended.
The public hearing started earlier amidst stir by the opposition leaders. Leaders and workers of left parties and members of peoples’ organizations turned out in large numbers for the public hearing. They stoutly opposed the hike and said any hike was irregular and illegal. CPI-M State Secretary Raghavulu and large number of party workers arrived there, following which police forces were deployed in good strength.
As the opposition leaders demanded putting-off the public hearing, the officials postpone it for some time in the morning. When the hearing resumed later, the opposition leaders rushed to the podium and started agitation. They tried to obstruct the ERC chairman and members from proceeding further. Following this, police tried to take away the agitators. As the stir continued, the hearing was put-off.
Raghavulu demanded the government not to hike even a rupee in the power –charges. He alleged that the government was conducting only a fake public hearing, and not a genuine one. He alleged that the government was keen on hiking the charges, only to benefit some of the Gas companies.
The left parties and many other people organizations staged dharna near FAPCCI. The activists raised anti-slogans. (NSS)