Power employees, pensioners protest in Shimla, demand OPS

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Shimla, January 11

Thousands of power employees and pensioners staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) headquarters and Chaura Maidan here today, demanding restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the appointment of full-fledged Managing Director in HPSEBL. Currently, IAS Harikesh Meena holds the additional charge of the HPSEBL MD. The protesters, who reached here from different parts of the state, raised slogans for the restoration of OPS and the ouster of the incumbent MD.

To Surrender free 125 units

• The protesting power employees decided to surrender free 125 units of electricity that electricity consumers get on a monthly basis in the state
• The protesters said a large section of people, including the power employees, does not need this subsidy
• The state government gives around Rs 270 crore per quarter to compensate the board for offering 125 units of electricity free to the consumers

Talks on Jan 18

We have been called for talks on January 18. Depending on the outcome of the talks, we will decide our future course of action. — HL Verma, Joint front co-convener

The power employees alleged that the financial position and general functioning of the board had deteriorated over the last nine months under the current Managing Director. Apart from holding the additional charge of HPSEBL, Meena heads two other key power departments, namely Directorate of Energy (DoE) and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).

“The HPSEBL is being run without a regular MD for the last nine months. How could one officer run three departments efficiently? The HPSEBL alone has around 40,000 employees and pensioners,” said Lokesh Thakur, convener of the Joint Front of HPSEBL employees and engineers association, which is spearheading the protest.

Also, the protesters alleged that there was a clash of interest between the HPSEBL and the DoE over certain issues. “We believe the board’s financial health has deteriorated because of this clash of interest. It’s for this reason as well that we are demanding a full-fledged MD for the board,” said Thakur.

The protesters further demanded that the OPS should be restored as soon as possible for electricity staff. The OPS has been restored in other government departments and boards and corporation of the state.

“The Chief Minister has himself said that the OPS would be given to the power employees. We don’t know why it has not been implemented yet. It should be implemented without any further delay as several technical problems would arise if it is not done in this financial year,” said Joint Front co-convener HL Verma.

Meanwhile, Sunil Grover, former convener of the Joint Front, urged the Chief Minister to appoint a regular MD who could help exploit the vast hydro and solar potential of the state. Verma said that they received an invitation for talks from the CM during the protest.