The Hindu Business Line : CII voices concern over power cut impact on AP industries

Visakhapatnam, March 12 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Andhra Pradesh, has expressed concern over the power cuts in the State and urged the Government to address the issue urgently, as otherwise it will prove crippling to industry in summer.

Mr Y. Harish Chandra Prasad, Chairman of CII, AP, said at a press meet here on Thursday that supply of quality power for industry was of the utmost importance and the position in the State was worrisome on the count. He said the State needed 250 million units a day and the availability was only about 212 million units, and therefore, a cut of 30 million units a day had been imposed.

The Government was buying power from other States, but even then it was not in a position to supply power to industry. “It will have a serious impact on the process industries and the small-scale units which do not have captive power facilities. We will take up the issue with the State Government,” he said.

He said a 15-point common minimum economic agenda had been prepared keeping in view the difficulties faced by industry in the State in the current economic recession and the steps needed to be taken by the political parties to address the problems.

Uninterrupted, adequate supply of quality power and provision of infrastructural facilities besides incentives figured prominently on the agenda. The agenda would be placed before the parties.

He said, “We hope the political parties will consider our problems and incorporate them in their manifestos. No matter which party comes to power, these issues will have to be addressed.”

Mr Prasad said the CII, AP, had identified five thrust areas for the year and focus on tier-two cities such as Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada was one of them. The other four areas were membership engagement, agriculture, media and entertainment, tourism and common minimum agenda.

The CII had taken up a programme to upgrade 24 industrial training institutes (ITIs) in the State and it was also tying up with different universities such as Andhra University to improve the skill level of students to make them employable.

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