Employees of AP power utilities agree to defer strike

Employees of Andhra Pradesh power utilities tonight agreed to defer till September 16 their indefinite strike, protesting against the proposed bifurcation of the state, following the intervention of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
The Chief Minister held talks with the Electricity Joint Action Committee leaders at his Camp residence and asked them to call off the strike, planned from tomorrow, to avoid difficulties to the public.
Accordingly, the employees of AP Power Generation Corporation, AP Power Transmission Corporation and power distribution companies (Discoms) agreed to postpone their strike, an official communication said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister appealed to striking government employees, teachers and all other agitators not to disturb essential services and cooperate with the officials in their smooth functioning.

He directed Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and other top officials to initiate discussions with the employees concerned and "convince" them of the importance of essential services, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said.
The Chief Minister also asked the officials concerned to make all efforts to open schools, colleges and other educational institutions to protect the future of lakhs of students.