Maharashtra State Electricity Employees, Officers and Engineers Struggle Committee has asked the state government to cancel the plan to further divide Mahadiscom, to continue control of hydroelectric plants in the hands of Mahanirmiti, to end the policy of allowing distribution franchisee in “Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporations and to immediately stop the interference of controlling company in other three companies.
(English translation of letter in Marathi)
Date: 28.01.2022
To,
Respected Dr. Nitin ji Raut
Power Minister, Maharashtra State
Mantralay, Mumbai
Subject : Dissatisfaction about various changes being done in power sector in Maharashtra
Sir,
You are well aware that entire country is grappling with Corona pandemic. Even in these grave conditions electricity sector employees, officials, engineers of Maharashtra are working round the clock to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted supply to electricity consumers and also trying their level best to collect the electricity dues from consumers. All of them strongly feel that financial health of all the three companies should improve.
However, while praising us on one hand, you are also making announcements to further split the Mahadiscom, the distribution company. We denounce this in strongest words. Under the excuse that the financial condition of Mahadiscom is bad, you are planning to split it into two companies, one for distribution to agriculture and other to remaining customers. By such an action what will be really achieved is a question coming to our mind. Are we the employees responsible for bad financial condition of Mahadiscom? Continuously increasing dues from various government departments and the political pressure, when we try to collect the dues, is responsible for this situation. All our organizations have given one point programme to government for improving financial health of the Company. Instead of implementing that programme, all attempts are being made to fool the consumers and workers under the excuse of financial constraints. We strongly condemn these attempts.
Since last many years many hydroelectric plants are under the control of Mahanirmiti company. But in the last few years attempts are being made to hand over those plants to private capitalists. Recently decision has been taken to call for tenders so that the plants can be handed over to private capitalist companies. Over last many years Mahanirmiti company has spent crores of rupees on these plants and has been supplying electricity from these plants at very cheap rate. Then what is the real purpose behind handing over these plants to private capitalists? These doubts are coming to our mind.
Employees, officials and engineers are all extremely angry with all the above actions. Hence all the constituents of Sangharsh samiti have decided to organize demonstrations on 1st February 2022 for the following demands:
1) Cancel the plan to further divide Mahadiscom;
2) To continue control of hydroelectric plants in the hands of Mahanirmiti;
3) End the policy of allowing distribution franchisee in “Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporations”;
4) Immediately stop the interference of controlling company in other three companies.
We urge you to urgently organize a meeting with us else we will not have any choice but to go on strike which you may please note.
Yours sincerely,
