HPSEB staff to protest power Bill on Dec 8

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 27

The joint front of the HP State Electricity Board Employees’ Union, HPSEB Power Engineers’ Association and Junior and Diploma Engineers’ Association will stage a protest on December 8. A call in this regard was given by the national coordination committee of electricity employees and engineers (NCCOEEE) against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014, proposed to be placed in Parliament in this winter session.

According to representatives, the proposed Bill is anti-people. So they have decided to hold dharnas and rallies throughout the state against the proposed Bill on December 8. This Bill is initiated in Parliament with the aim of further splitting power distribution companies into carriage (distribution network) and content (electricity supply business) to enable profit mongers to enter into supply business of urban India.

“Private players will get a potential area to make money without making any investment for development or expansion of power industry. The proposed Bill will mean that consumers will have to pay more,” they claimed.

The Bill will provide unbridled access to private players to target consumers who are high-paying and will be supplied power directly.

The Bill will have an adverse impact in states like Himachal where HPSEBL is catering to power consumers by keeping its generation, transmission and distribution works under one umbrella. This gives cheap electricity to its consumers, claim HL Verma, general secretary, HPSEB, employees’ union.

“In case the proposed amendment is made, board will be fragmented into multi-companies. In turn, consumers will be losers,” Verma claimed.