-Avoid death blow to industries and jobs
-10 lakh workers in danger of losing jobs
-Avoid hike in energy duty on industry, trade
-Duty hike aimed at Rs. 3,000 Cr collection
AMARAVATI: TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to consider withdrawal of ‘power holiday’ considering its disastrous blow to industries and jobs in Andhra Pradesh.
In a letter to the CM here, Nara Lokesh said that there would be an existential threat to industries altogether if a timely decision was not taken on rolling back power holiday and ensuring quality supply.
Lokesh pointed out that already, industries were closing down one by one due to the Covid-19 lockdown, lack of incentives, unscheduled power cuts and increased current charges in the past three years. The harassment from the ruling YSRCP leaders for J-tax collections had also caused industries to run away to other States.
Nara Lokesh told the Chief Minister that the power cuts had caused severe losses to the granite, aqua, poultry, textiles and food industries. Because of the power holiday and other problems, over 10 lakh workers and employees were in danger of losing their livelihoods.
Expressing concern, Lokesh said the industries were unable to take orders in view of the power holiday this summer. Though they had capacity, the industries had no choice but to lose work orders. Consequently, production came down drastically resulting in a big dent in the revenue to the State treasury.
The TDP MLC advised CM Jagan to hold a review meeting and think about alternatives so as to withdraw the retrogressive power holiday. It was easy to announce a power holiday but in practice, its implementation would be very difficult and full of harmful consequences.
Lokesh also appealed to the Chief Minister to withdraw his Government’s decision to collect Rs. 3,000 Cr from the public by increasing energy duty from six paise to one rupee on commercial and industrial consumers. Any further burdens like energy duty hike would cause the total collapse of industry in the State.
Nara Lokesh recalled how Jagan Reddy promised during elections that he would not increase current charges if elected. But in just three years of his rule, Jagan had increased current rates seven times. The previous Chandrababu regime did not increase a single paisa in current charges in its five year term.
Lokesh deplored that the industries have landed in such problems under the Jagan regime that their managements were not able to pay rents, taxes and even loans. The production came to a halt and the industries were not able to pay salaries to workers.
