Dec 23, 2024 06:56 IST
The electricity workers of Uttar Pradesh are threatening indefinite agitation against privatization plans and demanding CM Yogi Adityanath’s intervention to halt the process.
Electricity workers and engineers in Uttar Pradesh have threatened an indefinite agitation if the state government initiates the bidding process for privatization of Purvanchal and Daksinanchal electricity distribution companies.
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This fresh warning came from the “Bijli Panchayat” here on Sunday, where workers vowed to launch a “do or die” struggle to revoke the privatization decision.
“The indefinite agitation will begin immediately at the start of the bidding process and continue until the privatization plan is withdrawn,” UP Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukta Sangharsha Samiti chairman Shailendra Dubey said.
“The Sangharsh Samiti has also decided to organize electricity panchayats in all districts and projects in the state to mobilize public support,” he said.
The employees participating in the Panchayat criticized the Power Minister and management for carrying out privatization and accused them of trying to transfer assets worth billions to corporate houses. However, they expressed confidence in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership and urged him to intervene and stop the process.
The employees emphasized that they have managed to reduce line losses from 41% in 2016-17 to 17% in 2023-24, claiming they could further reduce this to 12% within a year if privatization is halted.
The panchayat, attended by leaders of various trade unions and consumer representatives, including UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma, warned of unrest across the state if any worker faced harassment for opposing privatization.
Coordinator Prashant Chaudhary of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Workers and Engineers warned that if forced to take action, 2.7 million electricity workers across the country would join the strike in solidarity with workers from Uttar Pradesh.
The workers demanded complete transfer of Obra ‘D’ and Anpara ‘E’ projects to the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Generation Corporation and called for reorganization of UP State Electricity Board (UPSEB) to streamline power operations. They also criticized the government for abandoning previous agreements that prevented privatization without worker consensus.
As tension mounts, the workers’ fresh warning signals a potential crisis in the state’s power sector, with the threat of widespread agitation looming.
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News / Towns / Lucknow / The power staff is threatening indefinite upheaval if the privatization bid gets underway