The Electricity employees of Chandigarh ion will observe a  72-hour strike from 22 to 24 February to  oppose the  privatisation of the profit-making electricity department of
Chandigarh and have threatened to make it  indefinite strike if the government  did not change its attitude.
The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE)  vehemently oppose selective privatization with commercially lucrative revenue potential area of distribution utilities and support the strike of Chandigarh power employees.
All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF)  spokesperson  V K Gupta  said that the privitisation of union territories is just a preamble of government policy to privatise the state electricity boards.

The Union Cabinet  has approved the highest bidder on January 6 and  Chandigarh administration has planned to hand over  power department to private company
on March 24.
Chandigarh power employees went on   day's strike earlier

 in February. ThePunjab and Haryana  high court on January 20 sought a response from the UT administration on a fresh plea moved by UT Powermen Union seeking stay on
further steps in handing over  power services in   Chandigarh to a private company.

The power supply rate in Chandigarh is lowest in comparison to adjoining states because of cheap hydro and thermal power from central projects and a 3 per cent share  in the BBMB.

UNI GS MR