Power Companies Employees On 72-Hour Strike In Maharashtra

The government asked to take all necessary steps…

Mumbai: On Wednesday, 04 January 2023, employees of three state-owned power companies went on a 72-hour strike to protest against the privatization of power firms even as the government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), a leader from the union said.

The government has asked the officials concerned to take all necessary steps to ensure supply of electricity in the state.

Thousands of employees of the three companies were actively participating in the strike which started from midnight, Krushna Bhoir, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, told PTI.

The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments.

Bhoir said the state government has called them for a meeting and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis will meet members of the action committee of the employee unions at the Sahyadri Guest House here at around 1 pm.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) are the state-owned power companies.

Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had started an agitation last month.

Their main and only demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary.

In November 2021, an Adani Group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai.