UP power employees threaten protest over privatisation move

Employees of the Uttar Pradesh power department today threatened to hold protests on April 15 in protest against the state government's decision to privatise distribution of electricity in four cities.
"The state government has decided to hand over (power) distribution work in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Kanpur and Varanasi to the private sector," convenor of the Power Employees' Joint Action Committee, Shailendra Dubey, told reporters here.
He reeled out figures to question the government's logic behind the proposed privatisation.
"As per (state) power corporation figures, the per unit revenue collection in these four cities is much higher as compared to the (state) average of Rs 2.35 per unit," Dubey said.

He alleged Agra had reported losses of Rs 1,200 crore after privatisation of power distribution in the city.
Demanding revocation of the government's decision, Dubey appealed to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to take employees into confidence before taking any decision concerning them.
If the decision to privatise distribution of power was not rescinded and a tender to appoint consultant not cancelled, the employees would be forced to stage state-wide protests on April 15.