Power workers staged statewide protest against Electricity Bill

GUWAHATI: The CCoEEEP (Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees Engineers & Pensioners) staged a statewide protest across various electricity offices against the 'Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2020' and 'Draft Standard Bidding Documents for Privatization of Distribution Licensees.'

"We have already lodged our protest as also objections against the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2020 aiming to serve the interest of the private owners jeopardizing the interest of the employees and consumers as well," said CCoEEEP leader Nayanjyoti Chakraborty while protesting with hundreds of power workers at Bijulee Bhawan.

He added that it a matter of grave concern, despite opposition of major federations and unions of power sector including 12 State governments and numerous stake holders against the said anti-workers, anti-farmers, anti-small trader and anti-common consumers Electricity (Amendment) Bill-2020, no heed was paid by the authority.

"The Union government has not published the revised draft of the bill. Without solving the issues of the controversial elements of the Bill, the Centre has forwarded to privatize the power sector," he said.

Chakraborty pointed out that the proposed Bill is yet to be tabled in the Parliament but the Union Ministry of Power recently circulated the 'Draft Standard Bidding Documents for Privatization of Distribution Licensees.'

"The draft have been circulated to concretize the total planning of privatization of Distribution Companies asking to submit comments/objections within October 5, 2020 i.e today. We demand that the date for submission for comments/objections on the bidding documents should be extended till March 31, 2021," Chakraborty added.

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