Opposition Grows Against Power Licensing Policy in Haryana

Chandigarh, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : The All India Power Engineers Federation is voicing strong opposition to the Haryana government’s power licensing and privatization policy. Chairman Shailendra Dubey criticized the decision to grant a power distribution license to a private company in Gurugram, labeling it detrimental to public interest. He expressed concerns that this move could further jeopardize the financial stability of the state-run electricity distribution corporation. Dubey called on the government to revoke this decision.

The federation is currently engaged in a three-day strike involving power employees and engineers. Dubey highlighted that the Eleven Power Company, which has a total capital of just one crore rupees, lacks any experience in the electricity sector. Despite this, it has been awarded a license to distribute power in a major city like Gurugram, a move he argues is unprecedented in the country. He questioned the necessity of such a licensing arrangement, citing industrial states like Maharashtra and Gujarat as examples.

Dubey noted that electricity consumers fall into two categories: those receiving subsidies and those who do not. While government companies provide subsidized electricity to consumers at a lower cost, he warned that private firms are unlikely to sustain such losses. He fears that the private company will prioritize commercial and industrial consumers in Gurugram, leading to increased economic pressure on the South Haryana Electricity Distribution Corporation.

He cautioned that while private companies might initially offer lower rates, there is a significant risk of future tariff hikes. The potential transfer of the entire power distribution infrastructure to a private entity raises further concerns. Dubey drew parallels with the experiences of BSNL, suggesting that similar challenges could arise in the power sector. He urged the government to instruct the regulatory commission to revoke the relevant licenses, noting that the Electricity Act grants the government such authority.

As the strike continues, Dubey criticized the government’s handling of the situation, particularly its timing, which coincided with major festivals. He asserted that there should have been more sensitivity towards the employees’ demands. He also claimed that power workers and engineers across the country stand in solidarity with their Haryana counterparts.

Additionally, a united front of employees and engineers from eight northern states has sent a letter to Haryana’s Chief Minister, pledging their support for the strike. They made it clear that if any of their employees are assigned duties in Haryana during the strike, they will refuse to work. Dubey reiterated that the primary demand of the workers is to annul the license granted to the private company and urged the government to reconsider its policy in light of public interest and the potential impacts on the electricity distribution system.