PATIALA: Power engineers and workers, under the banner of National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), have decided to observe a two-day nationwide strike by boycotting work on January 8 and 9.

They are protesting against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill of 2018 and ‘privatisation policies’ of the central and state governments.

All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) spokesperson, VK Gupta, said that the Bill further divides the unbundled electricity industry as the distribution company will carry electricity to the point of consumption, while selling it to the consumer will be done by supply licensees.

“The motive behind this Bill is to separate loss-making component from profit-making ones and hand over the profitable part to the private sector, while keeping the loss-making parts with the government,” he said.

“Government is planning to create scope of business for private enterprises in power distribution sector without the latter making any investments,” he further added.

Gupta termed the draft amendment to the Electricity Act of 2003 as dangerous. He added that the proposed changes are aimed at benefitting ‘big power companies’.

The AIPEF has alleged that the draft will result in a steep hike in power tariff, thereby making it unaffordable even for the middle class, “let alone the farmers and economically weaker sections”