The Odisha Rajya Bidyut Sramik Karmachari Sangh on Thursday came down heavily on the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) for its mismanagement on all fronts.
Sangha general secretary Akshaya Tripathy said that for its mismanagement, the Cesu affairs have been deteriorating, but nobody is paying attention to this. “Due to lack of safety, many young workers have died in five accidents while some are struggling with life in various hospitals. But the Cesu authorities have turned a blind eye to all this,” alleged Tripathy.
He further said that though a lot of fund is spent in the name of equipments, which are not reaching out to the workers. “In many sections, many workers are forced to work on electric poles in the absence of any ladder. But when any accident occurs, the Cesu authorities do not take the liability,” he said.
Citing an example, he said a helper in Nimapada was forced to climb on a pole for some work as against the rule. He sustained serious injuries in a mishap while working. He demanded a high-level probe into the incident.
Similarly, the Cesu is also involved in large-scale corruption in the name of franchise, the body alleged and demanded an immediate end to the franchise system and appointment of permanent workers. It also demanded regularisation of workers.