Employees’ Strike affects power supply in UP

Lucknow: The strike by the power employees has affected generation in thermal power projects which has a direct impact on power supply as well as water supply in many areas of the state.
While the government has warned the striking employees to take action under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and The National Security Act (NSA), the High Court has termed the strike as unnecessary and contempt of court.
Despite this, the striking employees are not ready to step down and the union leaders said they are also not in favour of the strike, but the Energy Minister is turning away from the agreement made with the employee leaders in December last year regarding their demands. They have appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene in this matter.
Sources said CM Yogi Adityanath has called a meeting of the Energy Minister and senior officials of the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) at 12 noon, in which some important and tough decisions are likely to be taken regarding the striking employees.
Meanwhile, power supply is likely to be further complicated due to the shutdown in five units of 200 MW each of Obra thermal power plant. Union leaders claimed that the government has decided to hand over the proposed Obra D plant to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is not acceptable to them at all.
The leaders of Vidyut Karamchari Sangharsh Samiti said two units of 660 MW of Obra C have already been handed over to the private sector. “The privatisation policy of the government is not right. The government should withdraw the decision taken recently. The engineers and employees of the Power Corporation are fully capable of running their generating plants,” they said.
The sub-stations wore a deserted look in many districts and consumers are facing problems in depositing their electricity bills as the payment counters are closed. Only few gangmen are available to rectify the local disturbances.
Drinking water supply has also faltered in many areas due to power supply being affected. On the other hand, in many districts, the faults caused by light rain and hailstorm remain unattended. The workers and engineers who are away from the strike are trying their best to remove them.
Apart from NTPC engineers, the help of technical staff of the private sector is also being taken to control power generation. Meanwhile, the government has started the process of relieving the striking contract employees.