Protests galore against power tariff increase

- TDP leaders conduct signature campaign

- 'Rasta roko' on National Highway-7 disrupts traffic

- Demand to improve power situation in the State - Govt urged to look for alternate sources of energy

Anantapur: Protesting against the anti-people's policies pursued by the Central and State governments, the district Telugu Desam Party leaders carried out a signature campaign near the Clock Tower in the town on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, Puttaparthi MLA Palle Raghunatha Reddy said that people were facing untold hardships due to the hike in power tariff and the frequent unscheduled power outages in the district. He said that the people were fed up with the Congress misrule and the day was not far off when the Congress government would be thrown into the Bay of Bengal. He said that the Telugu Desam would continue with the agitation and intensify it till the power hike was withdrawn.

Speaking on the occasion, TDP Polit Bureau member Srinivasulu criticised the State government for its lack of foresight in taking any steps on time to utilize the power from the northern gird although it was available. He said that there was total anarchy in the functioning of the Transco and Genco units, which were resulting in frequent power cuts. It was unfortunate that there was no Minister for Power in the State to streamline the functioning of the department, he said.

Srinivasulu alleged that the concerned officials received bribes from the suppliers of coal and weakened the Electricity department and demanded action against such officials. Leaders and activists of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) staged 'rasta roko' on National Highway-7 here on Wednesday to protest against the power cuts and fresh power tariff hike. They squatted on the road and shouted slogans against the State government.

Addressing the newsmen, Penukonda MLA BK Partha Sarathi alleged that the Congress government was least bothered about the plight of the common people, who were facing hardships due to unprecedented power shortage in the State. A He demanded the government to take immediate measures to ease the power situation and reduce power tariff. Meanwhile, vehicular traffic came to a standstill on both sides of the road for about two hours and police had a tough time in restoring normalcy.

Penukonda (Anantapur): YSR Congress Party members staged a dharna in front of RDO Office here in the district on Wednesday demanding the government to take urgent measures to improve the power situation in the State. Speaking to the newsmen, they said that people were fed up with the Congress government, which threw the State into darkness by failing to handle the power crisis. They warned that they would intensify the agitations if the government did not bring relief to the people by reducing power cuts.

Uravakonda: Activists of YSR Congress Party took a massive rally in the town protesting against the increase in electricity charges at Uravakonda town in the district on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media, YSRCP leader Y Visveswara Reddy criticised that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was holding the power portfolio, had no knowledge about power sector and he failed miserably in handling the power crisis in the State. The government should find alternative sources to ensure adequate power supply to both farm and industrial sectors, as majority of the people depend on these two fields.

He demanded the government not to burden the common people, who were already facing troubles due to acute power shortage, by collecting high power tariff.

TDP Polit Bureau member Srinivasulu criticised the State government for its lack of foresight in taking any steps on time to utilize the power from the northern gird although it was available. He said that there was total anarchy in the functioning of the Transco and Genco unitsA

Dharna in support of Vijayamma

Kadapa: In support of the indefinite hunger strike by YSR Congress Party honorary president YS Vijayamma against power tariff hike, local leaders led by party convenor Suresh organised a dharna at the Collectorate here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Suresh said late YS Rajasekhara Reddy provided good governance while the same Congress government has been burdening the public with increasing charges.

He demanded the government to roll back the increased power tariff now and warned of intensifying the agitation. He criticised Telugu Desam party for suggesting public to dry clothes on current wires which has increased power charges nine times during its tenure. YSRCP leaders Amjad Basha, Afzal Khan, Hafizulla and others participated in the dharna.