Chandigarh: Talks between the Haryana Power Utilities management and the Joint Struggle Front of Haryana electricity employees and engineers have failed to reach a settlement, with employees maintaining their plan for a statewide strike.
The meeting took place on Sunday at Shakti Bhawan in Panchkula under the chairpersonship of Ashima Brar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department.
Employees Maintain Strike Call
Representatives of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited urged employees to withdraw the strike.
The employee organisations, however, have continued to press their demands. The Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Action Front has called a statewide strike for August 11, 12 and 13.
The employees are protesting several decisions and proposals related to the state’s power sector.
Dispute Over Private Power Distribution Licence
One of the main concerns is the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s move to grant a parallel distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited.
The proposed licence would cover high-revenue areas, including Gurugram and Nuh.
Employees are also opposing the proposal to create Haryana Agri DISCOM, which would handle electricity distribution for agricultural consumers.
Other demands include concerns over smart metering and several issues related to the functioning of the state’s power utilities.
Employees Accuse Government of Backtracking
Subash Lamba, a senior member of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers and national vice-president of the Electricity Employees Federation of India, criticised the government’s approach.
He said the employees had not received concrete assurances on their demands. Lamba also alleged that the government and management had moved away from assurances given by the Power Minister during an earlier meeting with the Joint Struggle Front.
The Front has announced demonstrations across the country from August 11 if the issues remain unresolved.
Farmers and Panchayats Extend Support
The proposed strike has also received support from farmer organisations and elected local bodies.
Leaders of several constituents of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have opposed the proposed creation of a separate Agri DISCOM for agricultural consumers from August 15.
They argued that separating the agricultural sector could affect the cross-subsidy currently provided through other DISCOMs.
Elected gram panchayats from several districts have also extended support to the power employees’ strike.
With negotiations failing again, the Haryana power employees are expected to proceed with their three-day statewide strike unless the government reaches an agreement with the unions before August 11.