Haryana power staff call 3-day strike against giving licence to private discom - Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's decision to grant private company 25-year parallel electricity distribution licence in Gurugram, Nuh. Power Minister says State will contest move before tribunal; staff allege decision will undermine State-owned firm.
Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Front has called three-day statewide strike from Thursday to protest against HERC decision to grant private company 25-year parallel electricity distribution licence in Gurugram and Nuh. Farmers' organisations and Opposition too have condemned move as anti-people.
Haryana Power Minister Anil Vij said decision taken by autonomous body despite State government's opposition to privatisation. He said it would be challenged before Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
In order dated October 19, HERC granted Eleven Power Private Limited licence under Section 14 of Electricity Act 2003. Now, over 8.3 lakh power consumers in Gurugram and Nuh, including households, farms, shops, industrial units and offices, can choose between two discoms.
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In statement, Joint Front alleged decision would undermine State-owned Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam by handing over high-revenue areas to private player. It said agitation aimed at protecting interests of power employees, farmers and consumers. It announced next phase of agitation and future course of action would be declared October 24.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana) has demanded withdrawal of licence. BKU State president Rattan Mann said farmers and poor households in Nuh, who benefited from subsidised electricity, could be hit hard as government has given no written assurance that subsidies will continue.
Indian National Lok Dal patron Sampat Singh condemned decision as grave and irreversible assault on Haryana's public power sector; interests of farmers, rural consumers, and poor; and very principle that essential services must serve people before profit.
"For first time in Haryana, two discoms have been permitted to operate in same territory. This has opened door to dangerous experiment as electricity is fundamental public service," he said.
Meanwhile, Eleven Power has, in petition, committed to supply electricity on non-discriminatory basis to all categories of consumers and to supply power on request under Section 43 of Act, releasing new connections within timelines specified in commission's Electricity Supply Code. Network will be built in phases over five years across all five divisions of licence area, with Nuh to be included from first phase.
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Will increase costs? He also alleged higher power tariffs could increase industrial and business costs in Gurugram and Manesar. He announced mahapanchayat of farmers, workers and traders in Nuh over next 15 days.
Analytically, parallel licence model tried in Mumbai - Tata and Adani - led to cherry-picking of high-value consumers, leaving state discom with subsidised rural load and losses. Gurugram, with 8.3 lakh consumers, is cash cow for DHBVN. Privatisation without clear subsidy continuation assurance may hit Nuh, one of India's most backward districts. Strike tests Haryana's power politics ahead of 2029 polls.
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