Protests in Ghaziabad against power tariff hike

Traders, industrialists and members of opposition political parties protested here Wednesday against a hike in power tariff, an organiser said.

The protestors took out a procession which ended with a sit-in at the district headquarters, said traders' union leader Gopi Chand.

He said the power tariff hike of 35-40 percent was unbearable.

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited's inefficient staff were responsible for its losses but the common man was being forced to pay a price for it, he said.

Congress leaders, including former minister Satish Sharma, former MP Surendra Prakash Goel and former legislator Surendra Kumar Munni, took out a procession up to the collectorate.

The Congress leaders slammed the ruling Samajwadi Party for over-burdening the consumer.

"When the state is not in a position to supply power throughout day and night, it has no moral authority to increase tariff," said Satish Sharma.