NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OFELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES & ENGINEERS

                                                                                         New Delhi

                                                                                                Dated: 3^rd May, 2005

PRESS-STATEMENT

A delegation of the powermen (National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers) met the Power Minister, Govt. of India, on 2^nd May,2005 at Shramshakti Bhawan, New Delhi consisting of  B.S. Meel, Convenor, Com. A.B. Bardhan, Himanshu (All India Federation of Electricity Employees) Er. Shailendra Dubey, M.S. Bajwa (All India Power Engineers Federation) Er. Sukhdev Singh, H.N. Mishra (All India Power Diploma Engineers Federation) Shri. Sarvesh Diwedi, Akhtar Hussain (Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyut Mazdoor Sangh) Com. Shyamal Chakravorty and P.N. Choudhury (Electricity Employees Federation of India) and Er. K. Ashok Rao( National working Group on Power Sector). 

The subject matter of the meeting was Electricity Act 2003 against pending notice of 2 days proposed strike of Powermen on 31^st May & 1^st June 2005.  The delegation presented to the minister that on some sections of the Act we have got strong concerns and therefore the review on the memorandum submitted by National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers to the Prime Minister will take some time we propose following three points to be immediately addressed pending review: 

1.                   Stop Unbundling/restructuring of SEBs

2.                   Provisions of cross subsidy to be provided in the Electricity Act: 2003

3.                   Discrimination between  urban and rural areas be eliminated Electricity Act:2003 

Further since review is going to take some months, the delegation requested to stop restructuring till review is completed.  Otherwise review will be meaningless if we proceed with restructuring. In a report got prepared through the power financing corporation from two prominent credit-rating organisations; the ICRA and CRISIL, commercial viability the most important factor is the poorest in most of the unbundled SEBs relatively besides all round derailment in respect of T&D Losses, Increasing tariff, deteriorating consumer services. 

The power minister desired time to study the presentation made by delegation and another meeting will be held on 17^th May 2005 at 11.00 AM. 

Meanwhile preparations for the 48 hours strike commencing w.e.f 08.00 hours of 31^st May 2005 nation-wide   are being vigorously made to attract the attention of the people of the country regarding the adverse impacts of the Electricity Act: 2003, particularly by way of tariff hike and power shortage hurting the total development of the nation.

                                                                                                (B.S. MEEL)