LARKANA: In its urgent meeting on Sunday, the Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association (SBRMTA) decided to continue non-payment of the electricity bills of the mills.

Association’s central president Qamaruddin Gopang was in chair and the office holders from all sub-divisional headquarters were called in for brainstorming, stated Asad Tunio, central general secretary of the millers’ organisation, in a press release.

Endorsing the decision, the participants vowed to continue non-payment of energy bills. It would be the second consecutive month when millers would refuse to clear the bills. The millers, who had paid bills in certain talukas in violation of the decision, would face stiff action even to the extent of completely blocking their transport loading, the press release added.

Different proposals were floated and discussed but after a debate, it was finally decided to keep the stance intact and adhere with the earlier decision regarding the payment of electricity bills.

Fresh meeting endorses continuation of drive against increased power tariff

Addressing the meeting, SBRMTA central president of Qamaruddin called for unity for a strong stance coupled with filing petitions to pursue the demand. He was optimistic that the state, government and judiciary would get solved their problems on priority basis. He said the millers stood unshaken with their principled stand as the recent electricity tariff had hit the rice trade with a severe blow.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Tunio said that soon the central office-bearers would make tours to meet the millers and traders in Balochistan and Lower Sindh with the aim of not only strengthening the protest, but also preparing a future line of action.

During the session, MNA Khuhrsheed Junejo and Larkana PPP president were contacted on cell phone and apprised about the issues confronting the association. As claimed by the association secretary, Mr Junejo who is also a former ambassador to the UAE and member of Wapda’s Standing Committee in National Assembly, had committed to get the issue of raised electricity rates resolved through the standing committee as soon as possible.

The meeting also praised the MNA for raising the issue on the assembly floor, convincing other members and informing the government regarding the inconvenient enhanced tariff of electricity that had drastically hit the rice mills and traders.

It was learnt that the matter would be taken up in the standing committee’s meeting scheduled for Oct 3 to be attended by the chief executive officers of Hesco, Sepco and Qesco.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Tunio said that presently there were 4,000 rice mills in Sindh and Balochistan and 40 to 50 labourers were employed in each mill. If rice mills stopped operation in both provinces, the step would render thousands of workers jobless, he warned.

He said the increase in tariff of per kilowatt charges from Rs440 to Rs1,250 would tantamount to drastically damaging the rice industry.

The rice mills ran operation only for six months and remained closed for as many months, but even then their current electricity bills were swelled up to Rs300,000 from Rs3,000, he claimed.

He said fresh rice crop had started arriving in the market and certain mills were purchasing paddy and season would continue till the end of March.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2024