More than 25,000 employees of Haryana power corporations went on a two-day Statewide strike from Tuesday night seeking rollback of “outsourcing” of operation and maintenance of power sub-divisions in the State.
A day before, the talks between the employees unions of Haryana Power Utilities and the State Government had failed to yield result. Haryana Minister Krishan lal Panwar had led the talks from the Government side in a four-hour long marathon meeting with the employees unions on Monday night.
The strike has been jointly called by the All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union and Haryana State Electricity Board Workers’ Union.
The employee unions are protesting against the hiring of private contractors for the maintenance and operations of 11-KV and low-tension (lT) transmission lines in 23 subdivisions of the State. Besides, they are demanding filling up of 30,000 vacant posts, inquiry into sharp rise in losses and debt of power distribution companies.
Earlier, the employees of power utilities went on strike in May following which electricity supply was badly hit across the State.
The State Government had on Friday invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the State for six months in view of the strike call. The Government has prohibited the strike in the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam ltd, Haryana Power Generation Corporation ltd, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam ltd and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam ltd by any of their employees for six months with immediate effect.
A day before, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had appealed to the agitating employees to withdraw their strike call. A three-member committee was also constituted under Transport Minister Krishan lal Panwar to negotiate with the representatives of the agitating employees.
Meanwhile, the State Government has now directed the officers of the Electricity Department to ensure power supply is not disrupted causing inconvenience to people during the two-day strike.
With a view to provide round the clock uninterrupted power supply and to tackle the strike call on June 29 and 30, Haryana Government has issued instructions to all its field offices to keep a constant watch on the situation.
Special teams are constituted to attend the break downs of the line and sub stations. A special control rooms have alsobeen setup at head office with phone number (0172-3019123 and 3019124) and at field levels to monitor the status of power supply.
The State Government has directed the officers concerned to remain in touch with the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the area and apprise them of the situation and request for administrative support.
The Government has given strict instructions to all its officers/ officials (including contractual employees) to ensure their presence in their offices during the period of strike otherwise strict disciplinary action would be taken against them.