MSEB workers to go on strike on December 8 against trifurcation

About one lakh workers of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) would go on a day long strike on December eight to protest the proposed trifurcation of the body.

The move comes ahead of the meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet tomorrow to decide whether to seek extension of the deadline for trifurcation.

"We will go on an one-day strike to protest against the proposed division of the board in three companies," working president of MSEB Workers Federation Mohan Sharma said here today.

Demanding that the government seek extension of December 10 deadline for trifurcation from the Centre, he said 25 unions including engineers have consented for the strike call.

He said under the Electricity Act 2003, the state government can ask for an extension citing the example of Tamil Nadu, which has been given the extension till December 2005.

"This is the decision which has to be taken by the Cabinet. There is nothing hard and fast and decision would be made accordingly whatever choices that are before it," energy minister Dilip Valse-Patil said.

Four unions including Tantrik Kamgar Union (TKM) have decided not to participate in the strike call.

"It is for the Centre to scrap the Electricity Act 2003 and instead going on strike we have decided to participate in the proposed morcha at the Parliament against the Act", TKM general secretary Ranjit Deshmukh said.