Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has decided to extend support to the National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) through massive demonstration and protest meetings on 16th February, 2024 at all power utilities headquarters and projects to press against anti-people measures and policies of the Government.
Shri Shailendra Dubey, Chairman, AIPEF said that the meeting noted with concern that our demands of scrapping the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 have not been adhered to even after the written commitment of the government to Samyukta Kisan Morcha. On the contrary, prepaid smart meters are unlawfully installed in the consumers premises towards curbing the rights of universal access to electricity. Tariff based competitive bidding has been prescribed for installation of transmission substations as further steps towards privatisation of the power sector.
Shri V K Gupta, Spokesperson, AIPEF said that the central government is continuing with its privatization agenda of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 through the Electricity (Amendment) Rules. This exercise is being done in the name of exercise of powers conferred by section 176 of the Electricity Act 2003.