The All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has appealed to all chief ministers to oppose the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2018, claiming that it was not only anti-people but also against the constitutional provision of electricity as a concurrent subject wherein states have equal powers. If enacted, it will encroach on the sovereignty of the state.

Power engineers across the country have decided to go on strike for two days in protest against the Bill. 

During a meeting, AIPEF federal executive termed the changes proposed in the Electricity Act, 2003, as a matter of serious concern as it would concentrate all powers in the electricity sector in the hands of the Central government and eventually lead to complete privatisation of power distribution.

AIPEF chairman Shaliender Dubey said power engineers of the country would boycott work on January 8 and 9 to protest against the proposed Bill. 

The executive has demanded integration of all power utilities and implementation of old pension scheme for power engineers.

Rathnakar Rao, secretary general of the federation, said in the proposed amendment, the cross subsidy payable to different sets of consumer within the distribution area would be reduced progressively and eliminated in a period of three years. “This is a policy matter for each state to decide. Further, any subsidy payable to a consumer will be through the provision of direct benefit transfer. The unfeasible proposal will certainly fail,” he said.

The AIPEF stated that the changes in the draft Bill had been proposed to pave the way for privatisation of power sector. — TNS