Maharashtra: Three state-owned power companies employees to go on 72-hour strike from January 4

Maharashtra: A 72-hour strike has been called by three unions of state-owned power companies in Maharashtra from Wednesday, PTI reported. They are protesting against the privatisation of power companies. 

The strike has been called by Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of power company unions.

Employees of these companies have been staging agitations for the last two to three weeks, while on Monday, 15,000 employees had staged a demonstration outside the Thane collector office, Krushan Bhoir, general secretary of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation told PTI.

"More than 30 unions of drivers, wiremen, engineers and other employees have come together to thwart the attempt of privatisation in the state-owned power companies," he said.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) are the state-owned power companies.

"Nearly 86,000 employees, officers and engineers of the three power companies, along with 42,000 contract employees and security guards will go on a 72-hour strike starting Wednesday to protest against privatisation," Bhoir said.

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One of the major demands of the protesting employees is that Adanai Group's power subsidiary should not be given a parallel distribution licence to make profit in Bhandup in eastern Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, he said.

In November last year, an Adani group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai. Adani Electricity Navi Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission, had applied to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a parallel licence for power distribution under the jurisdiction of Mahavitaran in Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Taloja and Uran areas.

"There are no financial demands in this agitation, but we want these power companies owned by people of the state to survive. These should not be sold to private capitalists who intend to only make profit," Bhoir said.

In the strike notice given to the state government last month, the action committee has also warned of an indefinite strike from January 18, if the demands are not met, he added.

Addressing a press conference, Vishwas Pathak, independent director of Mahavitaran, said two private companies had applied for a parallel distribution licence in the state, but this is not privatisation.

"Issuing a parallel licence is not privatisation. The government owns Mahavitaran and it has 100 per cent holding in it. That will not be affected," Pathak said.

There is a provision for issuing parallel licence under the Electricity Act 2003 and 2010 and any private distribution company can come forward for the same, he said. The MERC is responsible for issuing licences and the state government has no role to play in it, Pathak said.

Meanwhile, in light of the 72-hour strike, the Mahavitaran has set up a control room starting midnight for the Kalyan division to ensure uninterrupted power supply to its consumers, an official said.

As per a release from the power authority, the control room has been set up for areas coming under Kalyan zone, which includes Vasai and Palghar. The Mahavitaran will take the help of employees who are on strike, contract workers, retired employees and trainees to man the services, it said.

(With inputs from PTI)