Western regional power sector employees convention at Ambaji

Voice of Electricity Workers

July - September 2001

WESTERN REGION CONVENTION AT AMBAJI ON 29^TH JULY 2001

A Successful convention of representatives of Electricity Employees and engineers of Western region was held at Chowdhary Guest House, Ambaji on 29^th July 2001 under the banner of National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees & Engineers. Com. E. Balanandan, Er. Shailendra Dubey, B.S. Meel and A.D. Golandas participated on behalf of NCCOEEE. More than 400 delegates from Maharashtra and Gujrat took part in the convention. The deepening power crisis due to frequent changing and re-changing confusing power policy of Government of India came under severe criticism and the convention resolved:

1. All the PPAs signed in Gujrat are self-defeating and their adverse impacts will put GEB in red. Therefore, we demand review.

2. The Convention however notes with pride that the Employees and Engineers have channelized their energy to see that the revenue inflow of GEB has increased by several hundred crores of Rupees despite we being subjected to manhandling at the hands of miscreants and thrashing by management of GEB. Honest employees are subjected to victimization and penalized by initiating disciplinary actions and transfers to distant places, to impaire their zeal and initiative to book the power thieves and to resist undue political pressure which handicap’s the GEB to become financially viable.

3. The Electricity Employees and Engineers strongly protested against the Government of Gujrat’s intention to introduce Power Sector reforms bill in the monsoon session of the assembly to trifurcate GEB for purpose of handing of this vital industry to private capital. We oppose such step because this will seriously effect development of Gujrat in general and agriculture & industry in particular. The power tariff will be increased many fold and go beyond the affordable level of poor and middle class people. Thus, leading in de-industrialization and de-electrification of Gujrat.

The Electricity Employees and Engineers notes with anguish that despite disastrous failure of Power Policy in Orissa and Maharashtra, the Government of Gujrat is bent upon to pursue power sector reforms to enact the new law for furtherance of this policy maligning the GEB in various ways under the dictates of World Bank to destroy all that we have achieved. Therefore, we demanded financial reforms within existing structure of SEBs be taken up and the unbridled Electricity theft mostly be organised industry be tackled with firm political will by the central and the state Governments.
It is true that the Indian Electricity Act 1910 and the Electricity (Supply) Act 1948 do not fully cover the needs for accelerated developments and generation of funds, adequate for funding new projects. It was, therefore, thought the proposed bill would cover restructuring of electricity sector and streamline procedure and enabling clauses to usher-in a climate for fresh investments. Instead of addressing these problems, GOI insists on IMF-WD-WTO sponsored Electricity Bill 2000, repealing the Indian Electricity Act 1910 and Electricity (Supply) Act 1948, thereby denying efficient service to consumers at Economical justifying rates.
The Convention is of the opinion that the new legislation Electricity Bill – 2000 is not required. The existing legislation is broad based and can accommodate necessary progressive reforms. The Electricity Bill 2000 is diversionary and will result in confusion, causing a further set back to the power development. It is against the Federal split of our constitution. There will be enormous problems in the areas of (a) division of assets and liabilities, (b) valuation of assets, (c) privatisation and (d) bulk purchase and sale tariffs as well as retail tariffs. Competition and its consequent benefits if any would remain illusory since there cannot be competition under conditions of shortage.

Hence, the convention demands withdrawal of Electricity Bill 2000 intended to dismantle the public Sector Electricity Industry sand particularly the State Electricity Boards and decided to oppose the same with all our might in the interest of the Nation and consumers.


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