Representatives of the Joint Action Committee of various power sector organisations in Seemandhra have decided to put off their indefinite strike which was slated to begin from Wednesday midnight.

This follows a meeting the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had with representatives of various union leaders of AP Transco, AP Genco and Discoms and their joint action committee.

Following talks with the Chief Minister, these representatives agreed to postpone the strike keeping in view the difficulties consumers in the State would have to face.

The strike by electricity employees in Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh was expected to cause severe hardship to power consumers in the State.

The employees working for AP Transco, power distribution companies, AP Genco from the Seemandhra region had served a strike notice and decided not take up work causing disruption of power generation and its supply.

Earlier, Suresh Chanda, Chairman and Managing Director AP Transco and K. Vijayanand, Managing Director of AP Genco, appealed to the employees not to strike work as it would disrupt normal life.

Addressing a press conference, they said that they were in talks with the JAC representatives and hoped that they would reason out and do not disrupt smooth functioning of various plants and also its supply.

“Since electricity is an essential part of life, catering to the needs of requirements like drinking water, hospitals, railways, lighting etc, we have our duty to arrange power supply to the consumers,” they said.

Appealing to the staff, they asked them to reconsider their decision in the public interest.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy today appealed to the striking employees, teachers and all other agitators in the State not to disturb essential services and cooperate with officials for smooth functioning.

“We would like to remind you all that the State has been undergoing severe power and financial crisis in the last two years. This was particularly due to shortage of natural gas and depleted water levels in the reservoirs of hydel power stations. This year due to good inflows into Krishna river, the State is getting good quantum of hydel power, which has helped the power utilities as well as the consumer,” they said.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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