Panchkula, Oct 23 (IANS) The electricity crisis in Haryana was resolved on Friday after power employees called off their strike following assurance from the Nayab Saini-led state government that power companies in the state would not be privatised.
The employees had been on strike since Thursday in protest against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant license to a private company for electricity distribution in the Gurugram-Nuh area.
Employees of the power department strongly opposed the move, calling it the beginning of privatisation in the power sector.
The employee unions decided to withdraw the strike following a second round of talks with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Power Minister Anil Vij on Friday evening in Panchkula.
The Haryana government assured them that the license granted to the private company would be cancelled.
Power Minister Anil Vij told the union leaders that the state government would act under Section 108 of the Electricity Act.
The meeting was held between Minister Anil Vij, CM Saini, and representatives of the power department employees’ union. The discussions took place in two phases.
Following the meeting with electricity union employees, Anil Vij said: “HERC had decided to grant license to a private company in Haryana. From the very first day, we strongly opposed this before the regulator. I also want to make it clear that the government had not invited any applications from anyone.”
He added that the Electricity Act of the Central government contains a provision under which any entity can submit an application to the regulator proposing privatisation of specific areas. As soon as the decision was announced, power department employees strongly protested against it.
Mentioning the invocation of Section 108 of the Electricity Act, Vij said that the state government has the authority to issue directions to HERC.
“If the decision is found to be contrary to established policy, the Haryana government can direct that it be stopped and revoked,” he added.
The Hayana Power Minister said: “We have decided to proceed along this route. The Chief Minister and I have already signed the necessary letter and handed it over to the department, directing that this order be halted immediately. Along with this, we will also file an application for review of the order under the same provision.”
Vij also added that the meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and that another meeting has been scheduled for November 3 at 3 p.m., where a point-by-point and detailed update on the progress made so far will be presented.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nayab Saini asserted that the Haryana government stands with the power employees.
“As Minister Anil Vij explained, anyone can submit an application to HERC, following which it passed an order. Today, we signed and issued directions to HERC under Section 108 of the Electricity Act to revoke the order,” he said while addressing a press conference.
–IANS
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