Telangana: Worried Centre may impose ESMA to deal with crisis

Hyderabad/New Delhi, Oct 9:

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has failed to convince the electricity employees in the state who have been on strike for almost a week now, leaving the state in the tatters.

Joint Action Committee leaders said the chief minister requested them to withdraw the strike but when they demanded an assurance that the proposed division of the state would not take place, the latter could not give a satisfactory answer.

The employees, hence, have refused to call off the strike and even threatened not to spare the emergency services. The continuing strike could lead to a collapse in the entire southern grid, which would put the entire southern part of the country in the dark.

The talks between the CM and striking electricity employees have failed

The chief minister is due to hold another round of talks with the striking employees. The coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions have been worst hit by the crisis. State capital Hyderabad is also witnessing prolonged power failure.

Meanwhile, a worried central government hinted at imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to restore the power situation. Informing this, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there is no plan to impose President's Rule in the state in the wake of the violent protests against the creation of Telangana.

Hospitals in Seemandhra have been badly hit by the power crisis. Incubators and air-conditioning facilities have been crippled, affecting newborns and serious patients. Airports, mobile services, internet and ATM services have been hit. Train services in these parts have also been impacted.

OneIndia News