Panchkula: Talks between Haryana power utilities, protesting employees fail to break deadlock

Yet again, talks between the management of Haryana Power Utilities, representing the government, and the Joint Struggle Front of Haryana electricity employees and engineers failed to reach a conclusion.

The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, Ashima Brar, at the Shakti Bhawan in Panchkula on Sunday.

Meanwhile, spokespersons of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL), Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVN) urged the agitating employees to withdraw their statewide strike call, saying all genuine concerns would be considered with due seriousness.

The Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Action Front has given a call for a statewide strike on August 11, 12 and 13 in protest against the move of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) to grant a parallel distribution licence to a private entity, Eleven Power Private Limited, in high-revenue zones such as Gurugram and Nuh; the proposal to form Haryana Agri DISCOM (agriculture distribution corporation); the smart metering system; and other demands.

Senior member of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) and National Vice-President of the Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI), Subhash Lamba, strongly condemned the rigid attitude of the government and the management.

He said demonstrations would also be organised across the country from August 11. He warned that if the corporation management resorted to any repressive or punitive action against the striking employees, it would face strong nationwide protests.

Senior members of the Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Struggle Front present at the meeting included Devender Singh Hooda, Iqbal Chandana, Suresh Rathi, Vijender Brar, Puneet Kundu, Rajender Sirohi, Rajender Rana, Ravinder Ghanghas, Yashpal Deshwal, Surender Yadav, Vinod Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Vikas Nehra, Raj Kumar Mahla, Baljit Bainiwal and Anil Pehal.

Leaders of the Joint Struggle Front alleged that the management made it absolutely clear that the government could neither give any assurance on the issues of parallel distribution licences, formation of an Agri DISCOM and smart metering, nor provide any concrete assurance on demands for regularisation of contract workers, equal pay for equal work, risk allowance, removal of conditions imposed under the ex-gratia employment scheme and other pending demands. They alleged that the government had itself forced the electricity employees to go on strike.

The leaders further alleged that during the meeting, the management appeared to have even backtracked from the assurances given by the Power Minister during his earlier meeting with the Joint Struggle Front. They said that under these circumstances, the Front was left with no option but to proceed with the three-day strike.

Leaders of almost all constituents of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha strongly opposed the proposed creation of a separate Agri DISCOM for agricultural consumers from August 15.

They said separating the agricultural sector into a separate DISCOM would end the cross-subsidy currently provided by the other DISCOMs. This, they warned, would adversely affect the existing system and lead to an increase in electricity tariffs, which farmers would not be able to bear.

The leaders pointed out that the proposed Agri DISCOM was itself starting with liabilities of Rs 5,427 crore, raising serious questions about its financial viability and future.

Elected Gram Panchayats from dozens of districts, including Sonipat, Rohtak and Jhajjar, have also opposed steps towards privatisation of the electricity sector and extended strong support to the electricity employees’ strike.

Farmers have also organised separate mahapanchayats, where they have announced their firm opposition to the proposed Agri DISCOM, smart metering and parallel distribution licences.