Members of the All Odisha Power Engineers’ Federation took part in the national executive committee meeting of the All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF) held in Pune recently and held discussions on re-privatisation of distribution sector and franchisee operation in power sector in Odisha.
The AIPEF members expressed grave concern over the re-privatisation in spite of miserable failure of privatisation and franchisee and said the distribution companies have outstanding arrear of over Rs 8,000 crore and services to consumers have also deteriorated.
They also mentioned Odisha and Delhi are the only two States, who have resorted to privatisation in the distribution sector where as no other States has taken interest to privatise such an emergency sector.
Instead of tackling the real issues and review of the failed privatisation, effort is on to again sell the distribution companies to private sector.
It might be mentioned here that in last month, Power Engineering Associations from all across India had written to Odisha Chief Minister and Union Energy Minister to stop the re-privatisation process in public interest.
In the meeting the federation has decided to resort to nationwide cease-work stir on January 8 and 9, 2019 in protest against privatisation of distribution sector.
They members also demanded to make one power company by amalgamation of distribution, transmission and generation corporations as done in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh which has proved to be better model in efficient management of the sector.