Karnataka bandh highlights : Belagavi industry body protests power tariff hike

In Belagavi, a large number of traders and small and micro industry owners marched up to the office of the Deputy Commissioner with banners and placards. KCCI acting President Sandeep Bidasaria claimed that the hike in power tariff has gone up between 50 and 70 per cent, which has deeply impacted the small businesses.

The Hubballi unit of the KCCI protested against the state government over the abnormal price hike in electricity charges.

Visuals on local channels showed that the Belagavi industry body also gathered in huge numbers and carried out protests called by the KCCI earlier. Officials warned that the industries might shift to neighbouring states if the tariff is not revised by the state government.

Staff members from the Hubballi-based KCCI gathered in huge numbers near their office in JC Nagar and held a protest, with some officials holding placards which read, “We demand fair pricing for stable industrial development.” They were gathered near the Nehru Stadium in Hubballi.

A poster shared online revealed that the Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Hubballi went ahead with the bandh they had earlier called for, with a rally organised from the KCCI building in JC Nagar. “Please close your establishment (except emergency service),” the poster read. 

Even as the Peenya Industries Association in Bengaluru said they will not support today's bandh, industries and firms in the Peenya Industrial Area had held a protest last week and warned of a two-day strike if the government does not revise the hike in power prices, The Times of India reported.

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission okayed a hike in power tariff of 70 paise per unit in an order on May 12. This led to a political slugfest, with the opposition BJP accusing the Siddaramaiah-led state government of increasing the tariff to fulfil their poll promise of providing free electricity up to 200 units.

After seeing technical glitches over registrations for the "Gruha Jyothi" scheme, which offers up to 200 units of free electricity, Karnataka PWD Minister, Satish Jarkiholi, accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of "hacking" the servers.

The Congress government in Karnataka is facing hiccups in implementing schemes that were part of its state poll manifesto. While facing a shortage in rice for the Anna Bhagya Scheme, it's Gruha Jyothi scheme has seen billing errors by power supply companies even before its implementation, leading to the state-wide “bandh” today.

Bengaluru industry bodies have distanced themselves from the bandh call by the Hubballi-based KCCI today following an assurance from CM Siddaramaiah that he will meet industry associations on Friday and address their concerns. Therefore, business and trade is expected to run normally in the state capital.

After a talk with the Karnataka government, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) has called off the bandh and asked all its affiliated bodies not to protest. 

(ANI)

The Hotel Owners’ Association (HOA) in Mysuru said it will not support the Karnataka bandh called by the KCCI today, as reported by The Times of India. The President of the HOA, C Narayanagowda, said, “We will not participate in a protest that causes great inconvenience to the public.”

Several industry bodies in Bengaluru including the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI), Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA), and the Peenya Industries Association have said they will not support today's bandh, The Times of India reported.

Some individuals in Karnataka reported receiving an unusually high bill this month, which the Bescom - Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited - said was due to an “error”. On the other hand, electricity bills in online apps showed negative amounts. Bescom in a release said it is happening since June bills are yet to be updated in the system, and that this issue will be resolved within two days.

Congress government’s "Gruha Jyothi" scheme, which offers up to 200 units of free electricity, was one of the party's five poll guarantees. It will come into effect from August 1 for July’s electricity bill. 

Karnataka power minister KJ George said the Gruha Jyothi scheme is for 200 units and anything above and over will have to be paid. Read more here

The KCCI in its statement said the district chambers of Gadag, Bijapur, Ranebennur, Raichur, Talikoti, Vijaynagar, Mysore, Davanagere, Koppal, Bagalkote, Dharwad, Sirsi, Karwar, Bidar, Shivamogga, Kolar, Mandya, Chikkamagaluru, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Kalyana Karnataka, Haveri, Hassan, Bellary and other industry associations will join the bandh today.

Siddaramaiah told reporters that the electricity price is appearing abnormally high as two months' bill has been given together. “Next month onwards, the bills will be given for each month. Subsequently, the billing amount will come down,” he said. He also added that "facts and figures" have been given to the industry representatives who are protesting, and further discussions will be held.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earlier said he would meet the industry representatives calling for the Karnataka bandh today and address their concerns. He also said the agitation was “uncalled for” as the price hike is only temporary and will come down from next month onwards.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended support to the Karnataka Bandh call today. MB Sajjan, the district secretary of CPI(M) in Kalaburagi addressed a press conference, where he said the district and taluk units of the party would “extend solidarity” to the bandh call, as reported by The Hindu.

The Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries has organised a rally at 10am from the Dharmveer Sambhaji Chowk in Belagavi to the DC office. A poster shared online read that all associations of Belagavi were in support of the bandh.

The Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for a state-wide strike today to protest the sudden price hike in electricity charges. They have asked all trade and industry bodies to join the agitation by keeping their establishments closed today.