Hubballi based The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has declared a statewide strike for today, June 22. This bandh or strike is declared to protest against the hike in charges on electricity bills in the state. All trade and industry organisations have been advised to stop their operations in anticipation of some disturbance to daily life. Here is everything you need to know about this band.
Karnataka Bandh Today
The state-wide bandh called by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) on June 22, 2023, protests against the exorbitant price hike imposed by electric boards. This unjustifiable increase in power tariff will severely impact the backbone of our economy – the MSMEs.… pic.twitter.com/NqpbTxCOT2
— Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan (@drashwathcn) June 19, 2023
KCCI president Vinay Javali said that this bandh is a voluntary one and is only for business establishments. He said that a day-long bandh will cause losses for businesses, but sectors may not survive with such an unusually high increase in power prices.
This statewide protest will not affect essential services or the movement of vehicles. Private establishments, markets, etc. will be a part of this bandh.
Commuting shouldn’t be a problem for commuters because government-run buses operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will run smoothly all day.
Aside from buses and local trains, vital services, including doctors’ offices, hospitals, and government buildings, will be open all day.
Also Read: Ambubachi Mela At Assam’s Revered Kamakhya Temple Begins Tomorrow, Here’s All You Need To Know
A Protest Against The Increased Power Tariffs
The Bellary District Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pledged its support for the state bandh called by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on June 22 against the rise in electricity rates.#Bellary #Ballari
Karnataka Bandh in June 22nd pic.twitter.com/taql3KU53P
— Ballari Tweetz (@TweetzBallari) June 20, 2023
The city’s top businesses and industrial associations have decided against participating in the bandh and have promised the public that Thursday will be business as usual.
The Karnataka government announced a hike in power tariffs, because of which all power consumers will have to pay higher bills in June.
The fixed and per unit prices were increased by 70 paise on May 12 by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the new Congress government of hiking the tariff in order to keep their election promise of providing free electricity, and the news sparked a political spat.
According to KJ George, the power minister for Karnataka, more than two crore residents of the state are eligible for free electricity through the Gruha Jyothi programme, which provides free electricity to all houses with monthly energy consumption below 200 units.
What are your views on this?
Cover Image Courtesy: wikimedia commons