news details |
|
|
| Privatization of power comes under fire as Engineers; Employees term it as anti-people, anti-employee | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 14: J&K Power Employees and Engineers Co-ordination Committee (JKPEECC) a joint platform of employees and engineers unions/associations of power sector has expressed its serious concern over the recent announcement to un-bundle the existing power development department in the state.
Addressing a press conference the JKPEECC leaders termed the move as anti-employee and anti-people and said the decision of the government will only benefit only the private players particularly the big private companies. The state government has passed the Electricity Act 2010 in tune with the Electricity Act 2003 of the Government of India which has paved the way to unbundle and privatize the power sector and followed up with Govt. order no 264 of 2012 Dt. 05-09-2012 and the recent decision.
The Committee said that states like Odisha, Maharashtra and Delhi were forced to relook after they adopted the unbundling of power sector. They said that Government of India is again hell bent on passing the Electricity Act 2014 which is pending before the parliament due to stiff resistance by the power employees and engineers throughout the country.
"Through this bill the existing power sector will be completely handed over to the private players and small franchisees. The recent decision to un-bundle the existing power development department and formation of TRADECO and the government's plan to divide it further into five companies and handing over to private companies gradually is a serious move of privatization which is unacceptable to us," said JKPEECC.
The Committee said the decision of handing over the billing, metering and maintenances in M&RE Wing to the private contractors through separate contracts is a serious move to privatize and outsource the basic work and job which is being performed by the employees of the department normally thus rendering thousands of linemen, meter readers and other employees jobless.
"This policy should be re- examined and honestly in the interests of the people and economy by the rulers. We strongly feel by handing over this vital sector to the private players and big capitalists who are greedy and shows concern only for their profit will be disastrous for the economy, common people and the working class of this industry," said JKPEECC.
The Committee said that power sector needs reforms to control burning issues of transmission losses, theft of power, revenue realization and mobilizing of hydraulic resources, but it should be under government control and the employees and engineers are ready to co-operate with the government in this regard.
The JKPEECC said that district unit/sub unit level demonstrations and rallies will be held throughout the state. A state level seminar would be organized by JKPEEC in which intellectual, social activists, NGOs and people related to trade and industry will be invited. A two days strike will be observed throughout the state, it said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
