Power stir suspended

• Heeds to CM’s appeal in view of cyclone
• Agitation will continue in different forms

Hyderabad: The electricity employees in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions suspended their strike as the state is facing the threat of a severe cyclonic storm. A decision to this effect was taken on Thursday evening following the third round of talks their leaders had with Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. As the Chief Minister appealed to all the striking employees to call off their protests and join duties with immediate effect in view of the cyclone threat, the Seemandhra electricity employees JAC called off the strike, but temporarily, since the cyclone was likely to bring heavy rains in the coastal districts.

Some of the Seemandhra electricity employees resumed work at their respective stations by evening on Thursday as per the decision of the JAC. The employees of state Energy department have been on indefinite strike for the last five days against the Union Cabinet's decision to create a separate Telangana.

Considering the severity of power crisis, the Chief Minister held talks with the leaders of the JAC at the Secretariat and requested them to give up their stir. The JAC agreed to call off the stir in view of the cyclone threat. An assurance was given to the CM the striking employees would join duties by Friday morning. But “We have not called off our strike completely. It's only a temporary arrangement agreed upon in view of the calamity" JAC Chairman Saibaba told reporters after the meeting with the CM.