Haryana power employees defer strike by two months after government assurances

Chandigarh, August 10: The Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Struggle Front on Monday deferred its three-day statewide strike, originally scheduled from August 11 to August 13, by two months. The decision came after an extended meeting with the state government, chaired by Energy Minister Anil Vij, where several demands of power employees were addressed.

The Joint Struggle Front, which represents a coalition of electricity workers and engineers, had planned the strike to press for their demands. Following the discussion, which lasted over five hours, the government agreed to a series of measures that persuaded the front to postpone the industrial action.

One of the key outcomes was the deferment of the proposed launch of the Agriculture Distribution Company (DISCOM), which had been slated for August 15. Energy Minister Anil Vij clarified that there was currently no proposal before the Ministry of Power in this regard. He assured the employees' representatives that the government would not move forward on this matter in the future without consulting the Joint Struggle Front and other stakeholders.

Vij noted that while the proposal had been mentioned by the Chief Minister in the budget speech, no concrete action had been initiated at the departmental level so far. He also stated that he had not held any formal discussion with the Chief Minister on the issue, indicating that the plan was still at an early stage.

Another significant issue was the proposed parallel electricity distribution licence for the districts of Nuh and Gurugram. The government agreed to oppose the petition filed by a private company before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC). Vij said the Energy Department had opposed the proposal from the beginning, and his approval had been given to the department's objection. This stance aims to protect the interests of the existing state-run power distribution system.

On the matter of smart metering, the government assured the Joint Struggle Front that no tender would be issued for the scheme in the future. Consumers would continue to have the option of choosing between prepaid and postpaid smart meters, preserving their flexibility and addressing concerns raised by employees and consumers alike.

Following these assurances, the Joint Struggle Front decided to give the government two months to implement the decisions agreed upon during the meeting. This cooling-off period allows time for the state machinery to act on the commitments made and for further dialogue if needed.

The deferment of the strike avoids potential disruption to electricity services across Haryana, which would have affected households, agriculture, and industry. The agreement reflects a constructive approach by both parties to resolve differences through negotiation rather than confrontation.

The development is significant for the state's power sector, as it addresses concerns about privatisation, licensing, and technological changes. The government's willingness to pause and consult stakeholders indicates a sensitivity to employee concerns while balancing the need for modernisation and efficiency.

Moving forward, the next two months will be crucial to see whether the government translates its verbal assurances into concrete actions. The Joint Struggle Front has indicated that it will monitor the implementation closely. If the decisions are not executed within the stipulated time, the possibility of renewed agitation remains.

For now, consumers in Haryana can expect uninterrupted power supply, and the threat of a statewide strike has been averted, at least temporarily.