M A I N   N E W S

R-day delays up powermen's release
Workers refuse to rejoin

LUCKNOW, Jan 26 (PTI) — Powermen in Uttar Pradesh did not join duty today despite an agreement on ending their 11-day strike late last night as over 2,000 striking workers arrested under ESMA have not been released, union leaders have said.

"We have made it clear to the authorities that unless all the arrested power employees are released, we will not resume our duties," UP Powermen Joint Action Committee Convenor Shailendra Dubey told PTI here.

However, an official spokesman, when contacted, said all employees other than those arrested under provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) have already been released and the process for freeing others has been initiated.

"Today being a holiday (on account of the Republic Day), the legal process involved in getting those arrested under ESMA could not be completed," he said, adding "the matter is being expedited and is likely to be completed by tomorrow morning."

As per the agreement hammered out late last night, the government agreed to defer privatisation of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB) by one year and the workers accepted the government's proposal to trifurcate the board.

Dubey and state Power Minister Naresh Agarwal, addressing a joint press conference last night after a marathon six hour discussion, had said the process of privatisation of power sector in the state will be deferred for a year to study the effect of the same in other states.

However, the notification trifurcating UPSEB issued on January 14 would not be rescinded, Agarwal said.

The government also deferred the privatisation of Kanpur Electrical Supply Authority (KESA) for an indefinite period saying the same would be reviewed, Agarwal said.

The decision to transfer the Tanda power plant to NTPC would, however, remain unchanged, he said.

The government, which discussed threadbare the service matters of the powermen, also gave the guarantee of protecting their interests besides setting up a trust of Rs 1,000 crore for employees provident fund within a period of three months, the minister said adding the retirement benefits of pension, gratuity, etc of the employees would be paid through government treasury.

He also announced that all disciplinary actions including termination from services, arrest under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the National Security Act (NSA) undertaken during the strike period stood withdrawn following the agreement.

UPPJAC convenor Shailendra Dubey said though they accepted the state government's decision not to withdraw the notification trifurcating UPSEB with a "heavy heart", but at the same time "we made the government agree to defer the process of power reforms (privatisation) for at least a year".

The government also deferred the privatisation of Kanpur Electrical Supply Authority (KESA) for an indefinite period saying the same would be reviewed, Agarwal said.

The decision to transfer the Tanda power plant to NTPC would, however, remain unchanged, he said.

The government, which discussed threadbare the service matters of the powermen, also gave the guarantee of protecting their interests besides setting up a trust of Rs 1000 crore for employees provident fund within a period of three months, the minister said adding the retirement benefits of pension, gratuity, etc of the employees would be paid through government treasury.

He also announced that all disciplinary actions including termination from services, arrest under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the National Security Act (NSA) undertaken during the strike period stood withdrawn following the agreement.

UPPJAC convenor Shailendra Dubey said though they accepted the state government's decision not to withdraw the notification trifurcating UPSEB with a 'heavy heart', but at the same time "we made the government agree to defer the process of power reforms (privatisation) for at least a year.