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Irked consumers gherao power firms' officials

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Prabhakar Kulkarni Mumbai/ Kolhapur
Power consumers in the city and various rural areas in the district are so perturbed by the erratic load shedding that they are resorting to organised agitation against offices and officers of the Maharashtra state electricity distribution company (MSEDC). The agitation is being organised under the banner of the all-party action committee.
 
The MSEDC's two centres in the city were attacked on Monday when the enraged consumers resorted to stone throwing and after entering the offices smashed material and records.
 
The police were informed and they have arrested 10 persons in the mob. The attack was so severe that the employees working in the office resorted to work-halt agitation which was withdrawn after the company's chief engineer of the urban division Sakhdev Giri promised to provide them police protection.
 
At Ichalkaranji, the textile industrial centre, a mob of consumers, mostly powerloom industrialists, took out a procession and gheraoed the company's officials and later the enraged consumers attacked the office and smashed furniture and other materials in the office.
 
The main officer, S R Kamble, who was gheroed for four hours was questioned by the enraged consumers about erratic load shedding and demanded regular and equal power distribution to the powerloom centres.
 
They have also pointed out that the inflated electricity bills which they are unable to pay particularly due to the power cut and obstruction in production and lack of smooth running of their power looms, should be considered for due rectification.
 
As the domestic, industrial and agricultural power consumers in this region are facing a crisis of erratic load-shedding and inflated bills for the last few days, the incidents of attacking the MSEDC's offices and the officials may continue creating a routine law and order problem.

 
 

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First Published: Apr 11 2007 | 12:00 AM IST

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