Now Reading: Haryana talks with power unions on as strike threat looms
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Haryana talks with power unions on as strike threat looms
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij said on Friday that discussions with power employees' unions are continuing ahead of their proposed three-day strike from August 11 to 13. The unions have raised three…
The Story in Brief
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij said on Friday that discussions with power employees' unions are continuing ahead of their proposed three-day strike from August 11 to 13. The unions have raised three demands: no privatisation through parallel distribution licence, no smart meters without consultation, and clarity on the proposed Agri DISCOM. Vij noted that the licence matter is before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission, an autonomous body; no tenders have been floated for smart meters; and no formal discussion on the Agri DISCOM has taken place with the Chief Minister.
On Saturday, the state government appealed to employees to withdraw the strike, saying a constructive meeting was held on August 7. It assured that all genuine concerns would be considered, but warned that any disruption during the peak season would not be allowed. The government reiterated that no privatisation proposal is under consideration and urged employees to ignore rumours.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides are spinning familiar scripts: unions paint every reform as a prelude to privatisation, while the government calls talks transparent without announcing a single tangible concession. The facts are less dramatic. Smart meter tenders haven't left the file, HERC is an independent regulator, and no agri-DISCOM notification exists. The real test is not the rhetoric but August 11: will the strike begin, or will a quiet offer on allowances defuse it?
Sources (2): thehindu.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
