Assam Power Workers Union protest against Electricity Amendment Bill in State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Power Workers Union protested against the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2020, on Monday.

The call for the nationwide agitation was given by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) against the Central Government's proposal to hand over power distribution companies to private sector.

In Bijuli Bhawan, the protest was held under the Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees, Engineers and Pensioners (CCOEEEP), where around 400 power workers demonstrated. The protest was held across 185 Electricity Circle offices in the State.

In this regard, the CCOEEEP submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

"Main object of the Bill is transferring assests of the power network from Generating Station Bus to doors of 25 crore households and farmers' fields, developed through seven decades at the cost of public exchequer to private hands, in other terms cronies closer to the government," stated Assam State Electricity Supply Workers Union general secretary Nayan Jyoti Chakraborty.

"The proposed Bill has prescribed 3tier privatization in Distribution business. Last tier i.e. franchises will not require any license. The proposition transpires; Ministry of Power (MoP) is conceiving innovative idea of informalization of risk prone electricity distribution job requiring high level of skill and acumen. We cannot accept this odd intention of the government to make the workmen scapegoat of surrendering safety by the lawmakers," stated the memorandum.

According to the memorandum, "The MoP served a notice on April 17 to amend the existing Electricity Act 2003, in a most undemocratic manner. The proposed Draft Electricity Amendment Bill-2020 aims to privatise the power sectors of India in the interest of private company and MNC. It is detrimental to the interest of the Nation and against the Indian constitution,".