Haryana Chief Minister Appeals to Halt Statewide Power Strike
CM Nayab Singh Saini urges electricity unions to end their planned strike against private electricity distribution licenses.
Haryana CM requests unions to call off a three-day strike starting October 22.
The state government plans to challenge the HERC's decision to grant a private distribution license.
Over 8.3 lakh consumers in Gurugram and Nuh can now choose between two electricity providers.
Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has called on electricity workers' unions to suspend their planned three-day strike, which is set to commence on October 22. This appeal comes in response to the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's (HERC) recent decision to issue a 25-year parallel electricity distribution license to Eleven Power Private Limited in Gurugram and Nuh. Saini emphasized the government's commitment to opposing this decision and stated that they would contest it at the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
The strike was announced by the Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Front following the HERC's order dated October 19. The unions argue that the decision undermines the state-owned Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) by transferring lucrative areas to a private entity. Farmers' groups and opposition parties have also criticized the move, labeling it as detrimental to the public interest. Saini reassured the unions that the government is prepared to support them, even offering to engage lawyers of their choice for the legal battle ahead.
In light of the impending strike, Saini instructed all government departments to remain vigilant and ensure that the public is not inconvenienced, especially during the festive season. He also urged officials to prevent any potential unrest that could arise from the strike. To facilitate this, he directed Deputy Commissioners to form district-level committees to oversee the situation and report back to a high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary.
Power Minister Anil Vij clarified that the state government had not solicited applications for the distribution license, although HERC regulations permit any company to apply. He reiterated that the government, along with the Haryana Power Engineers’ Association, has consistently opposed the granting of such licenses to private firms. Meanwhile, Gurugram's Deputy Commissioner, Uttam Singh, has instructed electricity officials to ensure a continuous power supply and the operation of essential services during the strike, emphasizing the need for coordination to minimize public disruption.
As the strike approaches, a significant number of employees from state-owned distribution companies, including DHBVN and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, are expected to participate. Additionally, workers from Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited may join the strike. The discoms are preparing alternative measures to maintain electricity supply during this period.
