Haryana Power Workers End Strike Over Gurugram-Nuh Licence

Panchkula, October 23: A strike by power workers in Haryana against the privatisation of electricity distribution came to an end on Friday evening. The protest, which began on Thursday, was called over the decision to hand over the power distribution licence for Gurugram and Nuh to a private company.

After a second round of discussions in Panchkula with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Power Minister Anil Vij, the power employee unions agreed to end the agitation. The government has promised that the licence given to the private firm will be cancelled.

Anil Vij told union leaders that the government would proceed under Section 108 of the Electricity Act to address the issue.

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) had taken a decision to grant a private company a licence for power distribution in the Gurugram-Nuh belt. Power department workers said the decision signalled the beginning of privatisation in the sector and opposed it sharply.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vij said, "HERC has decided to give a licence to a private company in Haryana. We opposed this strongly before the regulator from the very first day. I want to state clearly that the government had not sought applications from any party."

He said the central Electricity Act has a provision that allows any organisation to submit an application to the regulator proposing privatisation of particular areas. The employees reacted forcefully as soon as the decision was made public.

Vij said that following discussions with union representatives, it was decided to act under Section 108, which gives the government the authority to instruct HERC. If the decision goes against established policy, the government can direct that it be halted and revoked.

"We have decided to take this route. The Chief Minister and I have signed the necessary letter and sent it to the department, asking for an immediate halt to this order," Vij said. "We will also file a review application under the same provision."

According to Vij, the meeting was held in a very amicable atmosphere. A further meeting has been called for November 3 at 3 pm, where a detailed, point-wise account of the progress made so far will be given.