By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 26, 2015 :

The impasse in the Odisha Legislative Assembly continues for third successive day over the power tariff hike announced on Monday.

The Opposition stalled the proceedings demanding the rollback of the decision.

As soon as Question Hour began, the Opposition members rushed to the well of the House waving posters and shouting slogans, forcing the deputy Speaker who was in the chair to adjourn the House till 11.30 am.

The House was adjourned again till 12 pm and then finally till 3 pm as normalcy did not return even after resumption.

The Speaker called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee to find a way out of the impasse, but it also failed to cut any ice.

“We are only raising an issue that the people are agitated about. The only way out of the impasse is the rollback of the decision,” Congress member Anshuman Mohanty said,

BJD member Dibyashankar Mishra, however, blamed the Opposition for the stalemate.

“They must give an opportunity to the energy minister to explain why this tariff hike had become inevitable. After all, Gridco has to pay Rs 750 crores to the NTPC towards purchase of power,” he said.

Sources in the government said it is likely to move the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission for some modification in the power tariff rates to appease consumers.