Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 31: Demanding a complete rollback of power tariff hike, the Bidyut Upabhokta Mahasangh along with civil outfits, trade unions and opposition parties Tuesday organised a 12-hour-hartal across the state. The shutdown evoked mixed response sans any untoward incident.
The protesters also demanded an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of accounts of power distribution companies (discoms) in the state. The protesters staged demonstrations at sub-divisional headquarters, district headquarters and electricity offices. The agitators staged a demonstration near the Red Cross Bhawan, Master Canteen, Nayapalli and other places here. Hundreds of protesters were arrested when they tried to disrupt traffic.
Many shops, business establishments and educational institutions were open and vehicular movement was normal in most of the places.
Security was tightened in view of the bandh. “The shutdown passed off peacefully. There was no untoward incident in the twin cities. We have arrested some persons while they were trying to create law and order situation,” police commissioner RP Sharma.
Mahasangh president Panchanan Kanungo said the state government, which revoked the licences of three discoms –Wesco, Nesco and Southco – had decided to accept their plea for hike in power tariff.
The government must immediately rollback the power tariff hike, which would burden the consumers especially the farmers, he said.
Little impact in Cuttack
The bandh supported by opposition parties including BJP, Congress and CPM evoked little impact in Cuttack. The agitators picketed at prominent offices in protest against the hike in electricty tariff and privatisation of distribution companies.
At places, the agitators burnt the effigies of the chief minister as a mark of protest. Bus services were affected for a few hours but people were not inconvenienced, said the sources.
All government offices remained open as usual and no untoward incidents were reported, said police sources.