Oppn livid over sop

Apparently wilting under the opposition pressure, the government announced relief to those consuming power upto 200 units per month. However, the opposition parties were strident in their criticism against the government for doling out a small concession Tariff relief deceptive

Hyderabad: CPM State secretary B V Raghavulu said that, the calculations, based on which Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy announced relief from the enhanced power tariff were quite deceptive.

Reacting on the decision to spare domestic consumers, upto a limit of 200 units, he pointed out that the Discoms had would forego only about Rs 830 crore of the additional revenue they sought to rake in by the enhancing the rates. But still the consumers had to bear an additional burden of Rs 5,700 crore as the enhanced tariff applicable for other key sectors remained unchanged.

The CPM leader stated that employment in the industrial sector would be affected considerably, due to the direct fall out of the power crisis as well as the hike in tariff. He wondered how the Chief Minister could classify the domestic consumers into rich and poor.

Few morsels for hungry: Narayana

Hyderabad: CPI State secretary K Narayana said that the left parties would meet on Friday to discuss the future course of action. He said the relief announced by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was like few morsels for the hungry. The poor were asking for seven hours of free power supply. They want development of government Discoms and total withdrawal of the hike, he added.

weavers, A small units neglected: YSRCPA

Hyderabad: A Opposing the government's decision to provide relief only to the consumers using below 200 units of power and leaving other domestic consumers burdened under A the new tariff structure, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Thursday questioned as to why weavers and A small scale industries and were not spared from the increased tariffs. She urged people to make the State bandh called by the party on April 9 a success.

'CM painting a rosy picture'

Hyderabad: BJP is not satisfied with the Chief Minister's statement and stands by its decision to observe a bandh on April 9. Kiran Kumar Reddy is trying to paint a rosy picture by just decreasing the rates under four slabs. He did not speak a single word about the unprecedented power cuts or seven hours of power to farmers. There was also no mention of the closing down of small-scale industries leading to unemployment of many laborers. I think nowhere in the world, power charges would be hiked on such a large-scale when the State is reeling under severe power crisis. BJP condemns Kiran Reddy's statement that if anyone does not welcome the government's fresh decision, they are speaking on behalf of the capitalists.

Just an eyewash: TRS Hyderabad: TRS floor leader in the Assembly Etela Rajender said the government's decision is just an eyewash. The burden on relatively small businesses like shops, poultry farms, small hotels etc has remained the same, he informed. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy should have totally withdrawn the power hike decision. TRS demanded the government to review the power purchase agreements so that this sort of adverse situations did not arise in the future.