MSEB unions to fight privatisation

NAGPUR, June 23: In a significant move, five major organisations of employees, technicians and engineers in Maharashtra State Electricity B...

NAGPUR, June 23: In a significant move, five major organisations of employees, technicians and engineers in Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) have decided to jointly oppose the entry of private companies in power distribution sector.

These organisations have criticised the State Government for its proposal to invite private sector in power distribution in the urban areas around Mumbai. They have accused the government of having a secret understanding for handing over the power distribution network in Thane, Bhiwandi, Dahanu and Raigad to a company floated by Tatas.

The secret understanding was reached at a meeting hurriedly convened by the Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde at Mumbai on June 20, alleged a joint statement issued by these organisations. Besides Munde, who holds the Energy portfolio, the meeting was attended the top officials of MSEB and State Government.

The organisations issuing the statement criticising the government move are: Maharashtra State Electricity Board Workers Federation (MSEBWF), Subordinate Engineers Association (SEA), Tantrik Kamgar Union (TKU), INTUC affiliated Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kamgar Federation and BMS affiliated Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kamgar Mahasangh.

In a sharp criticism of the government move, the leaders said it is aimed at hitting the very existence of the MSEB which has always given good performance in power generation, transmission and developing and maintaining the distribution network. Questioning the wisdom of handing over the distribution to the private sector, leaders of these organisations have pointed out that a huge investment has already been made to strengthen the distribution network all over the State.

Hence private companies taking over the network would not be required to make investment for deriving benefits by operating the already well established distribution system. It is against this move, seen as favouring the private sector at the cost of MSEB, that five major organisations have decided to launch an agitation.

The MSEB employees plan a flash strike against the policy of favouring the private sector the statement signed by Mohan Sharma (Working President), MSEBWF, Sharadchandra Banait (President), SEA, Ranjit Deshmukh (General Secretary), TKU, Sheshrao Dange (President), INTUC affiliated Federation and K K Hardas (President).