Electricity dept privatisation part of major reforms: UT

The UT Administration has reiterated that the privatisation of the Electricity Department is part of the major structural reforms to make India self-reliant, including reformation of the power distribution and retail supply through privatisation of the distribution utilities.

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Aimed at enhancing consumer services, improving operational efficiency and creating a sustainable distribution model, the step seeks to bring significant structural reforms, including improving the quality, efficiency, security and reliability of power supply and IT-enabled seamless consumer services; reducing Transmission & Distribution (T&D) losses to align with global benchmarks; and ensuring affordable and reasonable electricity pricing for consumers, the Administration stated in a statement.

It added that the UT Administration has taken steps so that all existing service benefits of employees are safeguarded and grievances of the UT Powermen Union are addressed comprehensively. In order to protect the interests of employees being transferred to Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), the ‘Chandigarh Electricity Employees Master Trust’ has been created which will manage all terminal liabilities of the transferred employees.

The Trust shall be headed by the Secretary Engineering and managed by the Board of Trustees consisting of officers of Chandigarh Administration with Superintending Engineer Electricity Circle as the member Secretary, the statement added. The Board will manage day-to-day functioning of the Trust.

The ‘Chandigarh Electricity Reforms Transfer Scheme’ has been formulated and the transfer of functions from Chandigarh Administration to CPDL will be done after notification of the Transfer Scheme, wherein, specific provisions have been incorporated to safeguard the interests of the employees.

All benefits of service accrued, including their entitled government benefits during their service under the Administration immediately before the transfer date, to the company, will be fully recognised and protected and taken into account for all purposes, including for the payment of any or all terminal benefits of such personnel.

The transferred employees, without their prior concurrence, shall not be posted outside Chandigarh by the company. The Administration will constitute a committee from transfer date to receive representations/suggestions on the transfer of personnel to the company and make a recommendation to the Administration in regard to their grievances in matters of transfer of personnel to the company, the statement added.