Electricity workers’ organization of Uttar Pradesh claims, massive impact on power supply in the state due to strike
Varanasi:
In Uttar Pradesh, the employees of the Electricity Department are seen in a fighting mood for their demands. They have gone on a token strike of 72 hours and are protesting by gathering at different places in the districts. In Bhikharipur area of Varanasi, the electricity employees gathered together and performed a yagya to wish the government wisdom. Their demand is that the 14 demands on which the government had compromised with them a few days back should be implemented. The strike of these employees is going on since yesterday.
Electrical workers on Friday entered the second day of their three-day strike, claiming that the strike has had a massive impact on power supply in some parts of the state. He also demanded the intervention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to resolve the conflict.
Shailendra Dubey, convenor of Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti, said, “The strike took place due to the stubbornness of the top management officials of the energy corporations. The impact of the strike is visible on the power supply. Five units of thermal power stations in Anpara, Obra and Parichha have stopped.
Power distribution system collapsed in many districts
Shailendra Dubey alleged, “The management of thermal power stations made the non-participating electrical workers work for 16 hours continuously by keeping them hungry and thirsty, but they could not run the power units.” He claimed, “Two units of 210 MW capacity in Anpara, two units of 200 MW capacity in Obra and one unit of 210 MW capacity in Parichha have stopped. This has had a huge impact on the power supply. Due to non-availability of electricity workers, the distribution system has collapsed in many districts of the state.
Significantly, the electricity workers of Uttar Pradesh have gone on a three-day strike from 10 pm on Thursday regarding the selection of chairman and managing director in power companies and some other issues. Taking a tough stance on the strike, the state government has warned of sacking contract electrical workers who do not turn up for work and taking action under the National Security Act (Rasuka) in case of sabotage during the protest.
Dubey, the convenor of the Electricity Employees Joint Sangharsh Samiti, which called for the strike, had told on Thursday that about one lakh electricity workers of the state have gone on strike for three days from 10 pm on Thursday. He had said, “In Anpara, Obra, Parichha and Harduaganj power plants, all shift workers, junior engineers and engineers have gone on strike on Thursday night. There has been a complete strike in the thermal power stations during the night shift.
Complete strike of electricity workers in UP after 23 years
Dubey had said that after about 23 years, there is a complete strike of electricity workers in the state. He had said, “On December 3, 2022, there was an agreement between the state government and the electricity workers. On behalf of the government, Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma had asked for 15 days time to implement the points of the agreement. However, now more than three months have passed, but the agreement has not been implemented.
Dubey claimed that the government had said in the agreement that the chairman and managing director of the power companies would be selected only through a committee headed by the chief secretary, but by discontinuing this system, now these posts are being posted through transfer. is being done, which has become the biggest point of contention.
On the other hand, according to the news received from Ballia, during the strike of electricity workers in the Kotwali area of the district on Thursday night, a private worker got seriously scorched after coming under the grip of high tension wire while repairing the power supply of the city. The employee was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition, from where he was referred to Varanasi.