Hyderabad, March 3 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh’s industry body FAPCCI Monday voiced serious concern about the power cuts and power holiday for industrial consumers in the state.
The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) described as a “rude shock”, the weekly power holiday announced by the distribution companies for industries.
The distribution companies have imposed power cuts for industrial and domestic sectors due to electricity shortage in view of the increased demand for agriculture.
“This has come as a rude shock to the industry. We are still coping with the losses incurred during last year due to acute power shortage and the R&C (restriction and control) measures imposed by APERC (Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission),” Shivkumar Rungta, senior vice president and V. Anil Reddy, vice president, FAPCCI, said in a statement.
The R&C measures were withdrawn only in August last year.
“Within 7 months, again the power cuts are started and industry is asked to stop the production for one day in a week. No doubt this will be increased to two days and even three days, as was done last year apart from peak hour restrictions from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on all days,” they said.
Despite repeated assurance by the chief minister and other authorities that there will not be any power cuts for industry this year, industries are subjected to power cuts even before summer has begun, the industry body said.
FAPCCI urged the APERC to take suitable measures to protect the industry from the power cuts and streamline the power supply.
Due to a shortfall of 20 million units to 30 million units per day, the distribution companies have imposed power cuts ranging from three hours in Hyderabad to 12 hours in villages.