Haryana power staff to go on strike over parallel licence to private firm

Joint front terms HERC order on Gurugram and Nuh step toward “indirect privatisation,” announce three-day strike from October 22.

Chandigarh: A joint front of Haryana power engineers and employees has announced a state-wide agitation against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a 25-year parallel power distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited for Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts.

Employees will burn copies of the HERC ruling, which they labelled a “black order”, at various places in the state on Wednesday. This will be followed by a three-day strike from October 22 to 24.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the front in Karnal on Monday evening.

Joint front spokesperson Baljit Beniwal said protesters will burn effigies of Union energy minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, and HERC chairman Mukesh Garg on Tuesday across multiple locations.

On October 21, employees will burn copies of the HERC ruling, which they labelled a “black order”, at various places in the state. This will be followed by a three-day strike from October 22 to 24. On the final day of the strike, the front plans to announce its next phase of action.

Terming the order a “black day” in the state’s history, Beniwal alleged that the ruling amounts to “indirect privatisation” of Haryana’s power sector.”