Chennai, July 20 (BPNS)
The opposition AIADMK will conduct protest marches across Tamil Nadu on July 25th against the proposed power tariff hike in the state. The protests will be held at all district headquarters in the state.
Tamil Nadu power minister, Senthil Balaji on Monday announced that the state electricity board has proposed an increase in power tariffs in the state for all sections including domestic, commercial, and industries. The state electricity board has already forwarded the proposal to the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Regulatory Authority for final clearance of the proposal. It is to be noted that the proposed power tariff hike in the state is for the first time since 2011.
The protest, according to the AIADMK is against the burden that will fall on the people of the state amid rising price rises of essential commodities. The party will also highlight the increase in house tax, property tax, water, and drainage tax as also rise in prices of all essential commodities in the state.
In a statement on Wednesday, the AIADM interim general secretary and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the demonstration would begin at all district headquarters at 10 am.
He said that the DMK government was taking the people of Tamil Nadu for a ride and that even after the rising prices of essential commodities, the government hiking the electricity tariff was not acceptable and that the party would conduct strong protest marches in all district headquarters.
The CPM, which is part of the ruling coalition in Tamil Nadu has also come out strongly against the proposed hike in power tariff. CPM Tamil Nadu state secretary, K. Balakrishnan told media persons that the hike in power tariff would lead to an additional burden on the people of the state. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader, TTV Dhinakaran opposed the price hike in power tariff and called upon the government to roll back on the proposed increase in power tariff.
