Industrialists protest power cuts

Irked by the power crisis in the state,industrialists in Mohali held a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioners office in Phase I on Tuesday.

Under the banner of Mohali Chamber of Industry and Commerce,the protestors staged a dharna and raised slogans against the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and state government.

The industrialists said increase in compulsory weekly-off up to 58 hours has come as a shock. This will be in addition to the daily unscheduled and long power cuts,which were increasing with each passing day.

Resenting the fresh directive issued by the PSEB,the protestors wondered aloud that if the situation was abysmal in March,while there was no additional load on the department,what would be the condition during the paddy season.

We are unable to understand the necessity of increase in compulsory weekly off days, they argued.

Accusing the state government of not taking any steps to tackle the shortage of power,the protestors said the increase in compulsory weekly-offs would hit the local industry badly,which was already on the verge of collapse in view of the concessions to their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh and J&K. A large number of industrial units have moved out of Punjab in the recent times.

Later,the local industrialists submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister and PSEB chairman to the Additional Deputy Commissioner urging them to immediately withdraw the proposal of more compulsory weekly offs to save the industries from perishing totally in Punjab.

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