Power workers protest against move to privatize APDCL

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees, Engineers & Pensioners, Assam (CCOEEEP) staged protests across Assam in all establishments of APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Limited), APGCL (Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd), and AEGCL (Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited) against the Standard Bidding Document (SBD) for privatization of APDCL. The central agitation programme was conducted at Bijulee Bhawan here and was attended by top leaders of all unions and associations of employees and engineers in APDCL/APGCL/AEGCL, including Dipak Kr. Saha, Pitambar Talukdar, Pramod Das, Sahnowaj Ali, and Utpal Gohain.

It is to be noted that the power employees and engineers have been vehemently opposing, since long, against privatization of the sole public power distribution utility in Assam.

CCOEEEP in line with National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers had already submitted its comments and reaction against SBD move to the Union Power Minister.

"While all the employees and engineers and pensioners in APDCL/APGCL/AEGCL as well as general people of Assam are firm against privatization of APDCL, authorities have formally started this disastrous move to sell out APDCL through Standard Bidding Document by conducting its official meet on Monday," said the CCOEEEP.

The CCOEEEP urged the people of Assam to come forward to resist selling out of the public distribution utility, which they said has been flourishing at the cost of public exchequer throughout last seven decades.

"Even though APDCL is facing lots of challenges which are duly caused by wrong policies on electricity of the successive governments, still APDCL contributes immensely to the socio-economic development of the State by extending electricity service to every nook and corners of Assam. Without further strengthening this public utility, government is moving ahead with privatization of APDCL at the behest of the corporate cronies. This is straightway detrimental to the interest of the common interest of Assam," the CCOEEEP asserted.

In this connection, the CCOEEEP submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through Chairman, APDCL/APGCL/AEGCL demanding not to proceed ahead in privatization of APDCL and not to sell the prime public utility but to strengthen its public sector character for a self-reliant Assam in future.

The body said if their demands are not met then they will be compelled to resort to intense statewide agitation to protect APDCL in coming days.

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