The Rajya Upobhokta Mahasangha on Thursday called a 12-hour hartal on March 31 in protest against the power tariff hike by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). Mahasangha president Panchanan Kanungo here at a Press conference rejected the arguments by the OERC for the tariff hike and demanded immediate withdrawal of the order.
“All the school, colleges and business establishments will remain closed and vehicular movements will also be stopped from 6 am to 6 pm on March 31,” said Kanungo. “The reasons of the OERC justifying the hike are illegal. First of all, when the OERC revoked the licences of three distribution companies, Wesco, Southco and Nesco, all their proposals before the OERC automatically stood revoked and do not have any legal force. Then, on what ground the OERC decided to hike the charge,” questioned Kanungo.
Maintaining that 56 lakh electricity consumers in the State, including farmers, small and medium industries would be affected by the tariff hike, Kanungo demanded a CAG audit of the power companies before any tariff hike. “We urge all sections of people and civil society organisations and political parties to observe hartal on March 31 to oppose the hike,” said Mahasnagha convenor and Samajwadi Party State president Rabi Behera.
Representatives of almost all political parties, including Congress, BJP and BJD and TMC had attended a preparatory meeting for the hartal on Wednesday and extended their support, added Behera.