By Tricitynews
Chandigarh 24th
September:- The Electricity
Employees of Chandigarh under the banner of the U.T. Powermen Union, Chandigarh
held a massive dharna and demonstration on today 24-09-2019 before the
Electricity Office, Sector-17, Chandigarh against the proposal of Chandigarh
Administration to corporatize / privatize the well running and profit earning
U.T. Electricity Department, Chandigarh and also against the non fulfillment of
other long pending demands which includes stoppage the process of privatization
of the well running, project earning UT Electricity Department, filling up the
vacant posts, amendments in Recruitment rules of various categories, grant
09/16/23 years promotional scale, provide T & P, safety devices and procurement
of material in the department, stoppage of calling panels of SDO, JE and other
catagories ignoring legitimate promotional right of UT cadre officers and
employees.
Gopal Datt Joshi, General Secretary, Amrik Singh, Raj Pal, Pan Singh,
Paramjit Singh, Kashmir Singh strongly
criticize the privatization policy of govt. of India and said that on one side
Govt. of India time and again highlighting that only sick public sector /power
sector which are in loss will be privatized but contrary to the statements and
decisions of Govt. of India the Chandigarh Administration is privatizing the
well running and profit making U.T. Electricity Department Chandigarh and
implementing the failed structure like Orissa, Enron (Maharashtra) and Andhra
Pradesh etc. One of other reason of privatizing of power sector was huge loss
of SEBs which was Rs. 26000 Crores
before the unbundling which was increased now to Rs. 10 Lakh Crore. But
even in spite of 100% shortage of staff
and acute shortage of material the Chandigarh Electricity Department is earning
approx.. Rs. 100 crores of profit. The department accredited as best
utility in the country by the JERC and bagged the tag consistently for last 5
years. Most profit earning department, never went into loss despite having no
generation and compromising on contribution of states only. Best consumer
services despite huge shortage of staff. Ratio of disposal of public grievances
is much less than the standards fixed by the JERC. Line losses to the tune of
9% to 10% only, which is an example for the states. Achieved the proficiency
level to the tune of 99.99% as per target fixed by JERC and G.O.I. Metered
supply to the tune of 95% including slum / rural area. Minimum power outages in
comparison to states. Regulating all the power outages and broadcast system of
outages to the public domain, thus there is no need to privatize the department
and demand that high level enquiry of the episode for which tenders are being
floated time and again.
Dhian Singh, Acting President, Sukhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Narinder
Chaudhary, Daler Singh, Surinder Goel, Swaran Singh and other leaders equally
criticized the authorities of the Electricity Department for their negative
attitude towards the genuine demands of the employees and blamed that the authorities
remained fail to implement the most urgent demands like filling up of vacant
posts, amendments in recruitment rules, grant of 9/16/23 Years time bound
promotional scales and implementation of DC rates to ALMs engaged through
outsource agencies beside others and further blame that the authorities instead
of implementing the demands are promoting deputations in U.T. Electricity
Department, Chandigarh and also trying to adjust Asstt. Engineers and Junior
Engineers from states of Punjab and Haryana ignoring legitimate promotional
rights of U.T. Cadre Junior Engineers, Lineman, SSA & other categories and
strongly demand that to withdraw the panels for deputation failing which union
will lodge strong protest and intensify its struggle.
Raghubir Chand, President, Rajinder Katoch, Vijay Singh, Senior vice
president, Harkesh Chand, Harpal Singh and other leaders of federation
including Manmohan Singh, Ujagar Singh Mohi, Ram Swaroop and other leaders of
various organization also addressed the dharna and supported the demands of
U.T. Electricity Employees and warn the authorities to stop the process of
privatization of profit earning of UT Electricity department failing which they
will lodge joint protest alongwith peoples of City beautiful for the negative decision
of Chandigarh Administration.
Dharna passed resolution to participate in joint dharna of
federation to be held on Chandigarh on
26.09.2019 and further decided to participate in national convention of Trade
Union being held on New Delhi on 30th September against the privatization of Public Sectors.
Dharna further decided to hold a Massive protest dharna and demonstration on
01.10.2019 before the Electricity Office Sector 17-E Chandigarh in which date
of strike and boycotting duties during Diwali festival will be announced for
which the authorities will be fully responsible for any inconvenience to the
public due to ongoing agitation.
