J

Srinagar, Jun 13 (UNI) Several business bodies of Jammu and Kashmir have called for a one-hour shutdown tomorrow in protest against the power hike announced by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) recently.

Addressing a joint news conference here, the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Federation of Industries Jammu (FIJ) and the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) termed the decision as ''arbitrary, unreasonable and anti-industry''.

The business bodies said the industrial community has taken strong exception to the power tariff hike and decided to observe one-hour shutdown from 1100 hrs to 1200 hrs tomorrow.

The community would also hold peaceful protests against the impugned decision across the state, the chambers said.

The members said the industrial units of Jammu and Kashmir were likely to get affected by the hike, which was in gross contravention to the state industrial policy of 2004.

''The hike is unreasonable and unjustified keeping in view the situation in the state, which has led to most of the units being declared sick and some even closed,'' they added.

UNI