| Guntur: Stating that the Centre’s decision to amend the Electricity Act, 2003 would adversely affect farmers and weaker sections across the country, AP Electricity Employees Union state general secretary VSRK Ganapathi demanded that the Centre should immediately withdraw the move. He said that electricity employees would stage a day long hunger strike on the issue on January 8. He said that electricity employees in all public sector undertaking boards in the country would take part in the nation-wide protest. Addressing the media here on Monday, Ganapathi criticized the Centre for unilaterally going ahead with the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003. He said that the Centre set aside the objections raised by the states and electricity boards to favour private companies. He said that the amendments proposed by the Centre would be big jolt for farmers and weaker sections as it would bring all subsidies to an end. He said that all electricity consumers would be hit due to the amendments. Ganapathi alleged that the Centre had not initiated any action against the irregularities in PPAs in spite of their fight against massive corruption in the deals since 2016. “We will take the people along with us by explaining them of the consequences of amendments to the 2003 Electricity Act. We will intensify the agitation if the Centre did not relent on the issue,” warned Ganapathi. He demanded that the state government should provide all wage benefits to energy assistants recently recruited and fill all the vacancies at least with the outsourced employees. He said that employees were not responsible for the losses of the discoms as they were on the forefront to extend better services to the consumers. Employees Union leaders Devendra Reddy, S Krishnaiah, Ramachandra Pillai, Ch Purushottama Rao, AVSS Prasad, P Veerraju, PLK Sastry, divisional leaders M Veeranjaneyulu and K Koteswara Rao were present during the press meet. Ganapathi released also the campaign poster to spread awareness about the proposed amendments to the Energy Act. |