NEW DELHI: Power sector employees and engineers from across the country held a massive rally on Tuesday at Delhi against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014 & privatization of power sector by way of franchisee system.
The rally was addressed by Padamjit Singh, Shaliender Dubey, Rathnakar Rao and Ashok Rao .The employees had come from across the country including for off states like Kerala, Telangna, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and J&K.
It was decided to observe one day strike/ work boycott! throughout the country during Monsoon Session of Parliament on a date to be decided in next co-ordination committee meeting. It was also decided to fully support agitation of UP Power Employees & Engineers against privatization through proposed franchisee system in seven major cities.
Shailendra Dubey Chairman All India power Engineers Federation (AIPEF ) said as per memorandum the object of the proposed bill is to create avenue for private houses of making business in power sector without any investment. Splitting of distribution business into carriage and content will create such scope of business with utilization of network set up by public exchequer. The government is encouraging privatization at the cost public sector.
Padamjit Singh Chief Patron said electricity is a concurrent subject but centre is behaving as if it only their prerogative to privatize the power sector and states are submitting to the whims of government. First of all power utilities must be brought to good financial health and the gap between average cost of supply and average revenue must be bridged.
Ashok Rao warned that power utilities debt has been taken over by the state governments under UDAI scheme but the states will be forced to sell these debt papers in the open market and whosoever will purchase debt papers will become owner of the power utility.
Other speakers emphasized that power being concurrent subject the proposed amendments must be widely circulated and discussed with states. The proposed amendments should be kept as enabling and not as mandatory and no time limit be set for states to decide.