K'taka CM to call industrial bodies for discussion on power tariff as KCCI calls for bandh on Jun 22
Bengaluru, Jun 18: In the wake of outrage by certain industrial bodies over hike in electricity tariff rate, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he would call a meeting with the industrialists for discussions regarding the concerns.
The Chief Minister said the uproar was uncalled for as the electricity bills will come down from next month onwards.
As the Hubballi-based Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) gave a call for bandh on June 22, the Chief Minister said the office-bearers of industrial bodies were invited to clear the doubts.
"To convince them, facts and figures have been given. I hope that they are convinced. Our officials also called them and spoke to them," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
According to him, the power bills looked exorbitant to some because people had received the charges for two months.
"Tariff will not come down. It is appearing heavy because two months' bill was given. Next month onwards, the bills will be given for each month. Subsequently, the billing amount will come down.
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Giving a call for the bandh, the KCCI said in a statement to its members that the price hike in the electricity charges was abnormal.
"We request all the trade and industry to close their establishments on June 22. This is in protest of abnormal price hike in the electricity charges by Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs)," KCCI said.
It said that for the past eight days it made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact of the hike in electricity charges.
"However, no solution is forthcoming from the officials or government representatives," it said.
Sandeep Bidasaria, acting president of KCCI, clarified that they were not going against the government but were lodging their protest with a hope that their voice is heard. He requested the government to listen to them and find a remedy.
The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), a large business body of the state, has not responded to the KCCI's bandh call.
Days after announcing the launch of 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme, one of the poll guarantees of the Congress government offering free domestic electricity up to 200 units, the power tariff was increased by Rs 2.89 per unit.
The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) said the hike was due to fuel and power purchase cost adjustment (FPPCA) and arrears from April.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
