Power staff to boycott work from Jan 1
On a call of the UT Powermen Union, protest rallies and demonstrations were held in all electricity offices here and proposals passed on to the Central Government against the privatisation of the power sector.
A massive protest has been announced in Chandigarh on December 25 against the proposed privatisation of the Electricity Department. If the administration still adopts an adamant attitude, then the employees will boycott work from January 1, said Gopal Dutt Joshi, general secretary of the union.
President, Power Distribution, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, PR Kumar, stated that as Chandigarh debates power privatisation, examples from cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Greater Noida demonstrate its benefits —lower tariffs, improved service and operational efficiency.
Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL) of Uttar Pradesh, part of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, gives electricity 10% cheaper than the state rates without subsidies. The same group’s subsidiary, Eminent Electricity Distribution Limited, will manage Chandigarh’s electricity under regulated tariffs, ensuring fairness.
With rising losses in the local Electricity Department, privatisation promises better services, reduced transmission losses and consumer-friendly innovations. It’s a proven step towards transforming the power sector.
“We have all seen that wherever electricity has been privatised across the country, consumers have benefitted from improved services. From online customer support and 24/7 call centres to digital payment options, private companies are offering a wide range of convenient facilities. We assure the consumers of Chandigarh that after privatisation, they will receive even better services than ever before,” he added.
