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Electricity employees and engineers across Haryana began a three-day strike on Thursday to oppose a parallel power distribution licence granted to private company Eleven Power for Gurugram and Nuh districts.
The protesters, under the banner of the Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Action Front, said the licence threatened public electricity distribution utilities and could adversely affect farmers and consumers.
Shailendra Dubey, chairman of the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), urged the Haryana government to revoke the licences using its statutory powers under the Electricity Act, 2003, rather than relying solely on an appeal before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL).
Dubey, along with Haryana Power Engineers Association president Puneet Kundu and general secretary Ravinder Singh Ghanghas, addressed employees and engineers at a gathering in Panchkula. They urged Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to intervene and convene a Cabinet meeting to announce a clear policy against parallel electricity distribution licences in the state.
Speakers questioned the functioning of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), alleging that its decision favoured privatisation. They called for the licences granted to Eleven Power to be revoked, citing objections from power utilities, employees and other stakeholders.
They also raised questions about the company’s experience in the electricity sector, technical capabilities, capital investment and financial strength. The leaders sought an impartial inquiry into the licensing process to establish whether it had been conducted transparently and without irregularities or bias.
The protesters said public distribution utilities played a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted, quality electricity for farmers and other consumers. They warned that parallel distribution licences in an agriculture-dependent state such as Haryana could weaken the revenue base of public utilities and affect ordinary consumers.
The leaders argued that the government should strengthen public electricity distribution and improve services rather than introduce arrangements they believe could create profit-making opportunities for private companies.
Dubey warned that any harassment, victimisation or punitive action against employees and engineers during the strike would prompt colleagues in other states to respond.
Tara Thakur
