Karnataka Bandh Today: What is open, and what’s closed

Karnataka Bandh: Demanding the withdrawal of the hike in power tariff, Hubballi-based Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has given a call for State-wide ‘business bandh’ on today Thursday (June 22).

The KCCI on Tuesday claimed the support of chambers of commerce and industry in 25 districts for the bandh. KCCI president Vinay Javali informed that the bandh is only for business establishments, hence, the essential services and vehicle movement will not be affected by the state-wide protest.

“We request all the Trade and Industry to close their establishment on 22 June. This is in protest of abnormal price hike in the electricity charges by ESCOM’s,” the industry body said in an official statement.  “For the last eight days, we have made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact of the hike in electricity charges.

However, no solution is forthcoming from the Officials or government representatives,” it said. “To draw the attention of the government, we are calling for this Bandh. We wish to find a solution and get a reduction in the electricity charges. We hope that the government will respond to our request,” the statement read.

District Chambers of Gadag, Bijapur, Rancbennur, Raichur, Talikoti, Vijaynagar, Mysore, Davangere, Koppal, Bagalkoti, Dharwad, Sirsi, Karwar, Bidar, Shivamoga, Kolar, Mandya, Chickmangalore, Yadgir, Chitradurga, KalyanKamataka, Haveri, Hassan, Bellary, and other Industry Associations have agreed to join the agitation.

On May 12, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission approved an increase of 70 paise per unit in the fixed and per unit charges. The announcement has led to a political war of words as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the new Congress government of raising the tariff to fulfill their poll promise of free electricity.

Karnataka Power Minister KJ George said that over two crore people in the state can avail of free electricity under the Gruha Jyothi scheme under which all households that use below 200 units of power every month will get electricity free of cost. He said that consumers who use more than the allotted units have to pay for the extra units used along with the 9% of tax included in it.

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