Power supply in Maharashtra likely to be affected as companies protest against privatisation

The state government has invoked the provisions of Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and has asked people to report to work

Protesting against privatisation, more than a lakh employees of Maharashtra’s power sector companies are going on a three-day strike which would have an impact on the supply system.

The employees of all the three companies - Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MahaDiscom), Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MahaGenco) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (MahaTransco) are involved in the 4-6 January agitation.

The government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has invoked the provisions of Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and has asked people to report to work.

Also Read | Power deficit rises slightly to 0.6% in April-November; demand surges around 11%

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home, Finance and Energy portfolios, has convened a meeting with top officials to discuss the emerging situation.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government has put an emergency plan in place so that people are not inconvenienced.

Officials of various unions have also been invited for a meeting with the government. The agitation is being spearheaded by Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari, and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, which is an action committee of power company unions, which has given the strike call.

More than 30 unions of drivers, wiremen, engineers, and other employees have come together to protest against the attempt of privatisation in the state-owned power companies. Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had also started an agitation last month over their various demands.

Their major demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary. 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.

According to Krushna Bhoir, General Secretary of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, 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 to protest against privatisation. The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments.

Meanwhile, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the Shinde-Fadnavis government to intervene.

(With inputs from PTI)