Power staff observe strike for second day

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

Employees of the Power Department continued their strike for the second day today against the privatisation of 23 sub-divisions in the state. The supply of power remained undisrupted.

Ambala: Devi Prasad Bhatt, spokesman for the Joint Action Committee of Haryana power unions, opposed a government’s decision to terminate the services of outsourced employees and those hired on the DC rate. These employees participated in the two-day strike. “All power unions will launch an agitation if the termination of employees is not rolled back,” Bhatt said.

Power supply in rural and urban areas of the district remained undisrupted on the second day of the strike. Almost all regular staff of the department remained absent. Senior officers of the UHBVN and police kept a close watch on the situation.

Rohtak: Power supply was smooth in the Rohtak operation circle of the UHBVN. Superintending Engineer (Operation) Gian Chand said nearly 60 to 70 per cent of employees remained on strike. No incident of sabotage was reported. The employees held a demonstration and raised slogans against the government.

Mahendragarh: Employees of the power utilities took out a protest march in the city. Earlier, they gathered at the office of the Irrigation Department. The protesters accused the government of taking “anti-employee” decisions.

Panipat: Around 90 per cent of regular employees of the Power Department remained absent from duty. Three major technical faults occurred during the strike, which were rectified in time. Power supply was not disrupted.

Kurukshetra: Power supply remained normal in the district on the second day of the strike.

Bhiwani: The two-day strike by power corporation employees came as a blessing in disguise for Bhiwani villagers as they enjoyed uninterrupted supply. Before the strike, frequent power cuts were order of the day.

Jind: Employees of the Power Department staged a dharna near the office of the Superintending Engineer (SE) here today. Power supply was not disrupted in urban areas, but there were reports of power failure in some villages due to technical faults.