The Odisha Rajya Bidyut Upabhokta Mahasangha (ORBUM), a body fighting for cause of power consumers of the State, organised a protest meeting against the proposed power tariff hike in front of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) here on Thursday.
led by ORBUM president Panchanan Kanungo, hundreds of power consumers participated in the meeting demanding immediate withdrawal of the tariff hike proposal. Mahasangha convenor Rabi Behera spoke on the objective of the meet.
Former Minister Suresh Kumar Routray, former High Court judge Choudhury Pratap Keshari Mishra, Ajay Jena, Rabi Das, Congress leader Sulochana Das, former MlA Radhakanta Sethi and Sudarshan Pradhan also spoke, among others.
The body also demanded CAG audit of the annual budgets of the power distribution companies and withdrawal of the proposed power tariff hike.
later, OERC Executive Secretary Kamal lochan Panda came to the spot and discussed with the agitators and assured that they would not take any decision on power tariff hike at OERC advisory board meeting. The agitators called of the stir after this assurance.