AIPEF demands withdrawal of power privatisation process in UP
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 23,2025
All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has submitted a memorandum to the Minister of State for Power on Tuesday against ongoing privatization in Uttar Pradesh and other states and demands withdrawal of the privatization process.
AIPEF has urged the Minister of State for Power Ministry to intervene so that unilaterally going on privatization exercise in UP is withdrawn, profit making Chandigarh Power Department privatization is reviewed and no privatization is done anywhere in the larger interest of consumers & employees.
Shailendra Dubey, Chairman AIPEF in memorandum mentions that we are of firm opinion that Discoms should remain in the public sector in the larger interest of both consumers & employees. As far as viability is concerned in most of the states it has been achieved in the public sector itself . National average of AT&C losses has significantly come down during the last two-three years.
The way profit earning Chandigarh Power Department was privatized under duress was a horrible experience for power employees & engineers working in Chandigarh Power Department. More than 200 power employees were forced to take retirement a day before privatization. After privatization, the attitude of private companies towards power employees is apathetic.
In Uttar Pradesh privatization spree is going on in 42 districts which is a hasty move and should be withdrawn immediately. In UP privatization is being done in violation of two written agreements with Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, UP , an umbrella organization of all major unions & associations of power employees & engineers.
In both the agreements it is written that all the reform measures will be done in the existing infrastructure of UP DISCOMS & no privatization will be done anywhere in the power sector of UP without taking UP Power Employees & Engineers in confidence.
As far as reduction of losses is concerned AT&C losses have come down from 41% in 2017 to 16.5% in 2024. Power employees and engineers of UP are fully committed towards improvement. They have done miracles in Maha Kumbh and even the Prime Minister has appreciated it publicly.
V K Gupta informed that Uttar Pradesh government commends the achievements of power engineers and employees in improving the overall performance of Discoms , but also wants to privatize three companies to benefit private players.
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