Political parties, consumers and employees of the electricity department have protested against the handing over of the work of power distribution in the city to the private company, ESSEl, alleging that there is a nexus between the Government and the company. The left parties have called for Gwalior bandh on July 15, when the new arrangement comes into force.
It is also alleged that the government has accepted a condition of the electricity company that it will operate only in the urban areas where it can earn profit, but has refused to take up the job in the rural region, which is likely to incur losses.
The company is preparing to take over the electricity arrangements from 15 July.
It is stated that the ESSEl company would earn `15 cr per month as net profit from this contract.
The most important thing is the agreement to give the contract for electricity arrangements to the ESSEl company was made when the central zone electricity distribution company was running in a loss of about `100 cr per month. But as soon as the work of RAPDRP scheme for `200 cr was completed, the revenue of the company increased from `222 cr to `487 cr.
There have been clashes between the ESSEl company and the consumers before the takeover of electricity contract over the maintenance of electricity work on the power house at the Kampoo. However, an employee, Shinde, called the staff from Roshnighar and got the maintenance work done. The chief general manager of the central zone electricity company Virendra Gupta said that the decision to give the electricity arrangement on contract was taken by the state Government.
“The ESSEl company has completed its preparation to take over the work of electricity. I have only this much information,” he said.
The private company ESSEl has no experience of officers and employees because no officers and employees of the electricity company are prepared to go to ESSEl.
The ESSEl company has recruited 150 workers and most of them have started their work. But ESSEl has no experienced staff. The CPM and other leftist parties have decided to oppose the privatization of electricity supply, and called Gwalior bandh on July 15. On July 10, they would submit a memorandum to the Collector.
On July 11 they would burn effigies at Morar and Hazira Chauraha.
On July 12 they would burn effigies on Maharaj Bada. On July 13, they would make a human chain at Phool Bag Chauraha. On July 14, a candle march would be taken out in Hazira, Morar, Gwalior and lashkar. At the meeting Ram Vilas Goswami, Dashrath Singh, Narendra Pandey, Mehraban Yadav and advocate Guru Dutt Sharma were present.