In addition to the state exchequer's financial losses due to Ministers' and MLAs' 'paid holidays', the 18-day non-cooperation movement launched by Telangana employees earlier, and the frequent bandhs called by the protagonists of separate statehood, took a heavy toll on Andhra Pradesh's coffers.
With the recurrent bandhs imposed, production declined, and from February 14 to March 4, non-cooperation stir by the 2.85 lakh government staff, among others, led to an overall loss of Rs. 8,000 crore, according to estimates.
This figure is likely to mount by the end of the year, as over 6 lakh employees are expected to join the indefinite strike from next month. The losses will undoubtedly leave the government reeling.
During the previous strike, the output of Singareni Collieries fell drastically, more than one lakh tons per day. Coal will have to be imported if the same trend continues.
Incidentally, K Chandrasekhar Rao, TRS President and self-proclaimed champion of Telangana statehood, had described Singareni Collieries as 'God's Gift to Telangana.'
Besides this, the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation had also registered heavy losses.
Added to this, the fall in collections of registration and stamps nosedived.
The fall in revenue inputs is also being attributed to the low turnout at AP's pilgrim centres. Unrest in Telangana had hit pilgrims' visits to Tirupati, which tops the list of temples.
Then, Friday's bandh, the second this month, was announced on Thursday evening, leaving many people high and dry.
Those on long distance journeys on trains and RTC buses received a jolt.
Vehicle owners were coerced to queue up and bear lengthy waits at petrol bunks, not to speak of patients headed to hospitals, who bore the brunt as auto-rickshaws, too, went off the roads along with the RTC fleet.
With the buses off the roads, the private operators made a fast buck, who fleeced commuters. It is not incorrect to say Telangana leaders are, thus, indirectly encouraging the 'transport mafia' in the garb of private transporters dominating the roads.
Prices of essential commodities naturally followed the upward trend, and road-side vendors, whose business was slumped, were affected.
According to a local trader, these vendors had to down the shutters not out of love for their leaders, but out of fear of them and the local goons they employ, who played havoc.
And
the condition at the Secretariat is inexplicable isn't even worth a mention. The bandh induced all and sundry to desert their offices. The Secretariat Telangana Employees' Association leader Suresh said that the Association was extending full support to the Telangana leaders, and that the attendance was approximately nil.
Meanwhile, parents of students are now a worried lot. A parent said that hardly had the schools and colleges had reopened, when came the bandh calls, 5 in a row.
The next proposed bandh is on July 27, which has been called by the AP Students' JAC to protest against delay in issue of text books, dresses for school students, and over fee reimbursement.
The N Kiran Kumar Reddy government has no answer to the plight of the commoner, and for all the phenomenal losses perpetrated by the vested interests.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy seems to be swimming against strong currents quite alone, and has been trying to put up a brave show.
All said and done, his government is at the receiving end, and is being held responsible for allowing a free run by the mafia and black marketers, and most of all by the Telangana leaders, including his own Ministerial colleagues who are firm on keeping aloof so long as their demands are not given in to.
The CM's functioning, without his Ministers' assistance, is being seen as a solo flight trying to sustain the turbulence enroute.
Meanwhile, the common man is being sandwiched between the convenors of bandh and the happy-go-lucky one-man government. (INN)