Come December 20, industries in Andhra Pradesh, will have a welcome breather. Reeling under unprecedented power cuts in the last two months, the industrial sector will be subjected to only one day ‘power holiday' per week from that date.
Currently, it is two days power holiday and any number of unannounced cuts, say industries, especially small scale units, which have been badly hit.
In fact, the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, a few days ago represented to the State Government for relief, stating that nearly Rs 1,200 crore was lost in the last two months of power crisis.
The State Minister for Small Scale Industries and Textiles, Dr P. Shankar Rao, today announced the welcome relief to the industry. He was also responding to the representatives made by the small-scale industries and the various chambers to the Government on the negative impact of the power cuts.
Ever since the Singareni Collieries struck work in September, the State has been plunged into a power crisis.
The drying up of hydel power only compounded the problems. With the withdrawal of strike by the Collieries and the State buying power from outside, the situation has only partially recovered.
The State Government is grappling with a demand-supply mismatch and demands from the farming, industry and domestic consumers.
Power cuts of a few hours in cities and several hours in the rural areas are continuing, while the Government promises to provide seven hours of uninterrupted supply to farmers.