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Mint
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
27 lakh power sector employees to hold nationwide strike on 9 July over UP govt's move to privatise two discoms
More than 27 lakh power sector employees will observe a day-long nationwide strike on 9 July in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to privatise two discoms in the state. Shailendra Dubey, chairman of the All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF), said on Wednesday that the state government has decided to privatise Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL), which cover 42 of the state's 75 districts. "On the call of the umbrella body, National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), power employees, junior engineers, and engineers across the country have staged massive demonstrations against the privatisation of the discoms," he said. Dubey added that the umbrella body has now called for a massive protest on July 9 by 27 lakh power employees opposing the privatisation of the two UP discoms. Demonstrations will mainly be held in Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Rajkot, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Dehradun, Patiala, Jaipur, Kota, Hisar, and Lucknow. The strike on such a large scale may also affect the power supply across the country. "We will not be responsible if power supply is affected," Dubey warned. The power sector employees' union alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and certain senior state government officials are colluding with selected private players. They accused them of attempting to sell discom assets worth crores of rupees to private companies at throwaway prices. The AIPEF chairman said that if the discoms are privatised, farmers and economically weaker sections will be deprived of several benefits. Earlier in June, the Uttar Pradesh government invoked provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1966 (U.P. ESMA), prohibiting strikes in the electricity department for a period of six months. A notification to this effect was issued by the government. According to the notification, the strike ban covers all services under the following entities: Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (UPPCL); Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (UPRVUNL); Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (UPPTCL); Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (KESCO); Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (MVVNL); Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (PuVVNL); Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL); Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL); UP Renewable and EV Infrastructure Ltd. The press release noted that the decision was taken to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and prevent any disruption in essential electricity-related services across the state.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
27 lakh power sector employees to go on nationwide strike on July 9 over UP discoms' privatisation; allege foul play
Nearly 27 lakh power sector employees across India are set to stage a one-day nationwide strike on July 9, protesting the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to privatise two major electricity distribution companies , a move engineers claim could have far-reaching consequences for consumers and the sector at large. The All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF) on Wednesday said the strike has been called under the banner of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers ( NCCOEEE ), in opposition to the proposed privatisation of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL). 'These two discoms together serve 42 of the 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh,' said Shailendra Dubey, chairman of AIPEF. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Privatisation push sparks sector-wide protest Dubey said demonstrations are already underway nationwide and warned that the proposed July 9 strike — if carried out at full scale — could disrupt power supply in several regions. 'On the call of umbrella body National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), the power employees, junior engineers and engineers across the country have held massive demonstrations in protest against the privatization of the discoms,' he said. Live Events The federation has accused the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and some senior state officials of colluding with select private companies to hand over valuable public assets at 'throwaway prices.' Dubey alleged that the proposed move to privatise PVVNL and DVVNL is not just an economic decision, but one that could strip farmers and low-income households of subsidised benefits. 'Farmers and poor people will be deprived of several benefits if the discoms are privatised,' he said. He also issued a stark warning: 'We will not be responsible if power supply is affected.' The strike is expected to have a pan-India footprint, with major demonstrations planned in cities including Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Rajkot, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Dehradun, Patiala, Jaipur, Kota, Hisar, and Lucknow. The AIPEF has demanded a rollback of the privatisation decision and is urging state and central governments to consult with employees and engineers before implementing sweeping structural changes in the power sector.
