The Electricity department of Puducherry is seeing the protest from its engineering staff and other employees, the protesting staff have gone on an indefinite strike to show up their objection against the Government’s decision to privatise the retail sale and distribution of electricity. In starting of this week, the government called the invitees contenders for the privatisation of the power distribution of Puducherry.
The employees of the Electric department of Puducherry want to remain as government employees which is why they do not find the proposal of privatisation appropriate for their future. As a mark of protest, the protesting employees refused to attend to any complaints or fuse calls. The employees have warned of their continuation of protest until the proposal is withdrawn. The employees shouted slogans outside the entrance of the Department.
Puducherry does not have an Electricity Board, and it is the Department of Electricity that purchases power from the power-generating units of the Centre to fulfil the needs of the population. The tender notification issued this week invites bidders who wish to buy 100 per cent shares in the company that has the license to distribute and supply (retail) electricity in Puducherry.