National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) has decided to go ahead with work boycott protest & strike  on 08 & 09 January 2019 across the country ignoring the suggestion  of Ministry of Power.

Ministry of Power in a letter to Prasanta Chowhury Convener NCCOEEE has informed the present status of amendment bill and has termed the proposed work boycott as premature as the comments on the proposed amendment has not been fully  examined as more than 100 stake holders and unions  have given suggestions .Discussion with stake holders may also take place subsequently .

Shaliendra Dubey Chairman All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF ) said that the letter merely informs the  status of the day that Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2018 has not been tabled in Parliament & comments received are being examined without any commitments on the issues raised by the power engineers. Since Ministry of Power  has not given any clear assurance to withdraw Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2018 & no commitment on other issues mainly integration of unbundled power utilities in states and  implementation of old pension scheme, therefore ,AIPEF  has decided to proceed with two days protest across the country.

V K Gupta Spokesperson AIPEF said that Federation  has written a number of letters to the Government of India on the Electricity (Amendment ) Bill but never received a reply or call for discussion on the matter. Only views of representatives of private sector were heard and further changes incorporated in Amendment  Bill 2014. Even standing committee on energy did not invite biggest stake holders for discussion whom the original  amendment draft was referred.

Meanwhile AIPEF supports the Maharashtra power engineers &employees who have proceeded on strike  today  against award of urban distribution franchisee of Mumbra & Malegaon.