People will pay cost of Telangana-strike

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday made it clear that the cost of the ongoing general strike of Telangana employees would have to be borne by the people in the form of higher charges, even as the government began cracking down on striking staff.

Speaking about the woes on the power front, the Chief Minister said the state government was buying electricity and coal from outside suppliers at short notice. “The additional costs will have to be borne by the consumers,” the Chief Minister said.

“It is a normal practice, whatever (costs) Transco incurs on purchase of power and coal supplies from outside, the additional cost will have be levied on the consumers,” he said.

“That is the reason I am appealing to the employees to call off the strike.” There is also the issue of the RTC, which has been losing about Rs 15 crore a day after its staff went on strike in the Telangana area.The CM also urged the employees to return to work soon as possible as the strike was affecting Telangana districts most.

Late in the night, the government issued orders to all the departments to serve notices on contract employees and workers participating in the strike and remove them after seeking an explanation.