Posted on June 25, 2015 // 0 Comments
The Northern Regional Convention of NCCOEEE was held on 24th June, 2015 at Mapie Tourist Complex, Faridabad, Haryana. The above Convention inaugurated by Com. K.O. Habeeb, President, EEFI, . Other speakers were Com. Satbir (CITU), Com. Bechury (AITUC), Com. Usha Sharma (AIDWA), Virender Mallick, Virendra Dungal (SKS, Haryana), Sukhdev Singh (INTUC,Punjab),Samar Sinha (HSEB Workers Union), Ramesh Sharma (AIPEF), KKMallik (AIPEF), Naazir(J&K), Kuldip Kharwara (Himachal), Welcome Speech Com. Prasanta N Chowdhury, Resolution presented by Com. Subhash Lamba (EEFI). From EEFI Com. SS Subramaniam, Treasurer, Com. V. Lakshmanan, Office Bearer, Com. O.P. Sharma, Working Committee Member. A total of 500 electricity workers and Engineers representing various organizations participated. Following resolution was passed unanimously.
“This Northern Regional Convention of Electricity Employees and Engineers assembled on 24thJune, 2015 at Magpie Tourist Complex, Faridabad to raise voice of protest against the Government of India action plan to curb the right to Electricity of people of India, univocally condemn the aims and objects of this proposed amendment of the Electricity Act, 2003 through Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
All NCCOEEE constituents in Northern Regional States (Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, UP, HP, Uttarakhand & UT Chandigarh) note with grave concern that 30 crore people of India are still beyond the access to Electricity. The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 initiated in the Parliament on 19th December, 2014 with the purpose of further splitting of Electricity Distribution Sector into carriage and content to enable profit mongers to enter into supply business of urban and revenue potential area without any investment for development or expansion of the Power Industry. The proposed Bill if enacted will open the sector for cherry picking by the suppliers pressing the poor and low end consumer to pay more for consumption of Electricity. This convention put its fervent appeal to Government of India to be restrained from the proposed action plan.
This convention observed that Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, while considering the Bill has not taken into consideration the valid logical and technical points raised by the organizations of Electricity workers and engineers. Government of India is going ahead with enactment of Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 with the support of well off section of commerce and business community, setting aside the interest of farmers, urban and rural small entrepreneurs as well low end domestic electricity consumers.
Government of India is frenetically depending upon private players for development of the Power sector for a long since. Electricity Act, 2003 enacted and implemented for that purpose. Result of which has become totally negative. Government has also realized the same. Hence, repeated request for reviewing the status after a decade has been disdainfully disregarded. Dichotomy of the Government is very clear when we note that Section 14 of the Bill propose “Provided also that at least one of the supply licensee shall be a Government company or Government controlled company:” It is evident that the cream will be swallowed by the privates and burden will have to be shouldered by the Government company. Who would not enjoy financial support of the Government telling upon worst quality of service for the poor people.
This convention, participated by wider section of people from different works of life express their deep anxiety over future uncertainty due to lopsided Power Policy of the Government. Convention firmly demand that any amendment of the Electricity Act should be effected to only after thorough review of the Power industry after a decade of implementation of Electricity Act, 2003 by an independent and expert panel. Convention further demands:
