CHANDIGARH: The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) has written to the Union Minister of Labour and Employment to stop the privatization attempt of public utilities by the Chandigarh administration and the Uttar Pradesh Government affecting around 80, 000 permanent and 50, 000 outsourced employees and the 1.65 crores of consumers.
Prasanta Chowdhury , Convener NCCOEEE writes in its letter that power sector employees are in continuous struggle against these privatization initiatives, but the authorities are reluctant to pay any heed to the pleas of the employees. NCCOEEE has given a call to its constituents observing “One Hour Seize Work” on 31st December 2024 to oppose this attitude of the Chandigarh and state governments.
The Chandigarh electricity department has had continuous annual profit for the last so many years and has well maintained Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses below 10% where the national average is more than 15%. The tariff of Chandigarh utility is around Rs 4.50 per unit which is one of the lowest in the country. This highly valued utility was put in bidding in an unscrupulous way at a base price of meager Rs 174.63 crores. Use of huge prime land assets have been allowed to use @ Re 1 per month.
NCCOEEE were demanding for independent valuation of the assets through CAG audit as well as the scrutiny of all the financial data but no advice was sought by administration.
Chandigarh employees are central government employees and this privatization will suddenly convert them into private sector workers. shockingly, no transfer schemes have been arrived at as desired by the Electricity Act 2003.
Meanwhile Bijli Panchayat and a massive protest has been announced in Chandigarh on December 25 against the proposed privatisation of the Electricity Department
The letter further mentions that similar attacks of Privatization have been unleashed on two Discoms of Uttar Pradesh. Heavy investment has been made by the governments in these DISCOMs in the last few years under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme to bring down the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) Losses . These two utilities are yet to collect Rs 66, 000 crore as pending bills which will be given to private kitty if these are handed over.
The power sector employees and engineers are opposing these anti-People moves . Meanwhile Chandigarh Administration and the UP government has invoked Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) and imposed a ban against any form of public demonstration.