Power engineers to observe countrywide strike on Jan 8

Tribune News Service

Patiala December 24

Power engineers across the country will boycott work on January 8, 2020, against the proposed amendment in the Electricity Act 2003.

VK Gupta, spokesperson, All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), said all constituents of the National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) have served formal notice to the respective heads of power utilities relating to participation in the protest on January 8.

The AIPEF, in a letter to the Union Power Ministry, has demanded that issuance of ordinance or enactment of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, without prior discussion and consent with the representatives of organisations of power sector engineers and employees, should be put on hold.

Gupta added that engineers opposed the unilateral power policy of the Centre. “The Centre must review the adverse impacts imposed upon electricity consumers and employees with the implementation of the Electricity Act 2003, before moving ahead for any further amendments,” Gupta said.

The AIPEF members said the amendments proposed by the Centre would be big jolt for farmers and weaker sections as it would bring all subsidies to an end. “The proposed changes are aimed at benefiting the big power companies. The motive of the proposed bill is to create a scope of business for private enterprises in power distribution without any investment. The power ministry set aside the objections raised by the states and electricity boards to favour private companies,” they opined.

The AIPEF also demands that all power purchase agreements with exorbitant rates be reviewed in the larger interest of consumers and practice of backing down of state-owned power generating stations to purchase power from the private sector be stopped.