Noida power supply likely to be disrupted

The Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Majdoor Sangh (UPVMS) has decided to continue their protest, demanding immediate release of pending salaries, on Thursday as well. The strike is likely to affect the power situation in Noida.

The Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Majdoor Sangh (UPVMS) has decided to continue their protest, demanding immediate release of pending salaries, on Thursday as well. The strike is likely to affect the power situation in Noida.

Employees want their pending salaries to be paid immediately. (Burhaan Kinu/HT photo)

Sangh members gathered to stage a peaceful protest in front of the office of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) in Sector 16 on Wednesday.

The employees-cum-members of the Sangh were upset with the UPPCL for not giving them a concrete assurance about release of their salaries till late evening. The agitated employees raised slogans against the UPPCL and announced that their protest on Thursday would be much more aggressive.

The Sangh said even those operators who did not participate in the peaceful strike Wednesday will join them in the protest on Thursday.

Sangh members said the operators were not asked to join the strike so as not to disrupt the power supply in the city.

“But now, we want to teach the UPPCL a lesson. We want them to know how valuable we employees are for the smooth functioning of the power distribution system. All our operators will be here for the protest and there will be no power supply on Thursday,” said Shankar Lal, a Sangh member.

“I have not drawn my salary for seven months. The UPPCL is not giving us salaries on a monthly basis. We are low-paid employees, so how do we manage our family expenses in such a situation,” a lineman, Satyanarayan, said.

According to the Sangh, the UPPCL has agreed to release one month’s salary but refused to accept the demand of paying the entire pending salaries of all employees before Dussehra. The UPPCL also rejected the request for advance payment of the Diwali bonus.

Sangh members have been working for the UPPCL on a contract basis. They are engaged in grade three and grade four jobs - lineman, fitter, computer operator, meter reading operator. The UPPCL depends on them for smooth functioning of the power distribution system.

However, UPPCL maintains that they are trying to help out the employees.

“We have assured them of the best possible help in this regard. We will try to talk to our senior officials. We hope the employees will resume their work,” said Mukul Singhal, superintending engineer, UPPCL.