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Withdraw proposal for power tariff hike, CPI(M) tells Govt.

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Dec. 8. The State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked the State Government to withdraw its proposal to increase the power tariff for 2003-04.

``If the Government goes ahead with the plan, going against the wishes of the people, it will have to face serious consequences,'' the CPI(M) State Secretary, B.V. Raghavulu, cautioned here on Sunday. He said the State Government was preparing details of the tariff hike proposal to be sent to the Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The party passed a resolution to fight the proposed power tariff hike tooth and nail at its State Committee meeting which began here on Sunday.

On the first day of the three-day meet chaired by the CPI(M) Central Committee member, Paturu Ramaiah, the State leaders discussed the power scenario in the State and resolved that a fresh hike would only add to the woes of the people reeling under the onslaught of drought. "As it is they are overburdened by the hefty power bills being collected notwithstanding the drought and any further hike will spell doom for them,'' he pointed out. The Committee demanded that the power bills of farmers in the drought-hit districts be waived.

Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the revenue accrued by the power authorities in the name of development charges was lying with the Government even after the controversial levy was withdrawn in the face of protests by the people.

He wanted the Government to explain to the people whether the development charges would be given back to them or adjusted in their present bills. Similarly, he also demanded the immediate stoppage of fuel charges being collected by the Power Department since the past four months from the consumers.

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