The State Government is contemplating to hand over the existing four energy distribution and management companies, (DISCOM) to private hands in the State which is against the public interest. If privatisation of energy generation, distribution and management in the State is not stopped forthwith, a State-wide agitation would be launched, cautioned the Odisha Vidyut Karmachari Sangh here.
Mention may be made that the State Government has given the task of energy generation, distribution and management to four energy distribution organisations, namely, DISCOM (Nesco, Wesco, Cesco and Southco) respectively as a part of reform. In this connection, the Government is going to start the tender process soon, the Sangh alleged.
The Sangh also alleged that the private firms to whom the task of energy bill collection and maintenance was entrusted earlier in different circles and divisions did not perform well and on the contrary made the system more cumbersome and chaotic, thereby leading to serious management crisis.
These private firms were reportedly collecting undue bill from the consumers on some pretext or the other. There are also incidences of protest by the consumers against their exploitation and mismanagement in several places, the Sangh alleged.
It is not once or twice, but the State Government time and again tried to get the work done through the private firms but failed by which the innocent consumers and outsourcing employees are the worst sufferers, Sangh said.
Though the Energy Minister and the Secretary including Chairman of Gridco and OPTCL had given a written assurance last year to confirm and regularise 200 staff members from among the outsourcing employees, the assurance is yet to be executed.
Among others, Sangh president Ali Kishore Pattnaik, general secretary Kalu Charan Sahu and vice-president Mohan Reddy were present.