HYDERABAD, Sept 1: The Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI on Monday criticised proposed increase of 31 per cent in electricity tariff and said that it would reflect badly on exports and lead to shutdown of small industrial units.

HCCI President Haji Mohammad Yaqoob and office-bearers said in a statement that the industrial and agricultural sectors could not afford 31 per cent increase in power tariff.

They called upon the federal government to monitor the performance of distribution companies and said that the companies were committing grave excesses against consumers by transferring the burden of power theft to their bills.

It appeared that the distribution companies were trying to create difficulties for the democratic government by increasing electricity tariff every now and then, they said.

They appealed to the government to withdraw the decision about increase in tariff and encourage private sector to produce cheap electricity to save industrial sector from total destruction.

REFERENDUM: The HDA Labour Union (CBA) demanded on Monday that the director of labour withhold the result of referendum held on Aug 30 and alleged that elections were rigged.

The general secretary of the union Mohammad Yousuf and other office-bearers said at a news conference at the press club that none of the contesting unions had obtained one third of total number of votes, which was mandatory under the law.