Addressing mediapersons here, he made it clear that there was no link between the tariff hike and Rs 4,200 crore loan package from the World Bank. ``Several states have increased power tariff in the last few weeks. Can you say all of them followed the WB's dictates?'' he asked.

Replying to criticism levelled by Opposition parties against the tariff hike, the Minister explained that maximum care had been taken to spare the poor and middle class from the additional burden. ``We have exempted the Agriculture Sector and the lower slabs of domestic consumers from the hike,'' he said.

Energy Secretary V S Sampath and AP State Electricity Board (APSEB) Secretary A K Kutty were also present.