CHANDIGARH: The Electricity employees of Chandigarh under the banner of UT Powermen Union
today observe complete strike against the privatization of well running and profit
earning Electricity Department Chandigarh.
A massive rally of employees was held in sector 17, Chandigarh which was addressed by employees leaders beside the leaders of other organizations. The rally passed a resolution that if the bidding process will not be stopped
then an indefinite strike involving all the sections of society will be observed.
The date of the indefinite strike will be announced subsequently.
Gopal Datt Joshi, General Secretary of the union strongly criticized the privatization policy of the central government which is using pandemic conditions to privatise the electricity department.
He demanded that the bidding process should be scrapped. He further said that Department is generating profit for last 5 years, last year the department earned a profit of Rs. 258 crore and this year it is Rs. 117 crores. The line loss is
much below the limit suggested by the central government
Dhian Singh President said that even with an acute shortage of men & materials the department is providing 24x7 uninterrupted power supply to its consumer.
The speakers further alleged that the security amount of rupees 157 crores is being handed over to private operators.
The GPF of employees is being transferred to a private trust besides other financial losses.