Power engineers protest privatisation

Tribune News Service

Rajpura, November 27

On the call of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) 1.5 million power employees and engineers across the country held massive protest demonstrations on Thursday against the privatisation policies of the Central Government.

All engineers in the state wore black badges and kept their mobile phones switched off from 11 am to 2 pm as a mark of protest and gate rallies were organised across the state.

Power employees and engineers are opposing the Centre”s move to privatise distribution of electricity.

All members of the PSEB Engineers’ Association participated in this nationwide protest, to safeguard the interest of public sector undertakings, consumers and employees of the power sector, said Jasvir Singh Dhiman, president of the association.

“Post-privatisation the private discoms are allowed to take a minimum of 16 per cent profit, which would make electricity expensive for the consumers. Further the Central Government was looking at abolishing the subsidy and cross-subsidy in the supply of electricity, which would make electricity out of reach for the general consumers,” Dhiman claimed.

Faridkot: All members of the PSEB Engineers” Association participated in a protest on Thursday to oppose privatisation of distribution, said Bhupinder Singh, regional secretary of the association. “The Central Government is grossly misleading the public by saying that the electricity will be cheaper after privatisation,” he said. Post-privatisation, the private companies would be allowed a minimum of 16 per cent profit, alleged protesting engineers.