HYDERABAD: Power cuts this year may lead to the lockout of 1.6 lakh small and 2 lakh tiny industries in the state, rendering 19 lakh workers jobless, Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small Industries Associations (FAPSIA) president APK Reddy said.FAPSIA members have been on hunger strike since March 1 demanding that the state government lift the power cuts.Earlier, there was only one-day power weekly off to industries in the state, but this year the government has decided to extend it, besides imposing four hours of power cut during peak hours, between 6 pm and 10 pm, on other days.Reddy said with the reduced hours of production, most of the industries are not able to repay bank loans.Besides, power supply to industries is interrupted frequently.Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP) memb e r Y Tripuramba said interruption in power supply has hit food processing and paints units badly.Many food units are cancelling commitments, unable to deliver items to clients in time.Swarnandhra Jute Mill managing director BV Rama Rao said around 45,000 industries-- small, medium and large scale--are affected in the north coastal region.Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) senior vice-president Devendra Surana said increasing gas- based power generation is the only solution to cover the power shortage in the state.There is 10-15 percent power shortage, but industries are facing 40 percent power cut, which is unfair.While industries are consuming 30 percent of power, they are contributing 70 percent of the revenue of discoms.With the power cuts, industries are working in effect only for 15 days in a month, but they need to pay full salaries, rents etc, he said.They are losing customers and the confidence of bankers, and their reputation in the national scenario is damaged, he added.small is big in industrial sector* Total small industries in state 1.60 lakh.About 85 per cent of them are located in and around the state capital, in the three districts of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak.* 80 percent of industrial revenue is generated by small and tiny industries.* 90 percent of industrial workers are employed by small and tiny industries.* 17 lakh workers are employed with small industries and 2 lakh with tiny industries.* AP Industrial Policy 2010-15 promised to provide uninterrupted power supply to industries.
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