Latest news with #AIPEF
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Power staff's appeal to govt: Stall move to privatise discoms
Lucknow: A day after Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) chairman Ashish Kumar Goel said that the govt will privatise two out of five discoms, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) issued a strong appeal to the central and state govts to halt the move. It also warned of nationwide protests if the privatisation move continues in UP. The call was made during the AIPEF Federal Council meeting held in Lucknow, chaired by Shailendra Dubey, with participation from senior office bearers across multiple states. The federation emphasised that privatisation threatens the interests of farmers and poor consumers and undermines the public sector's role in ensuring equitable power distribution. Citing Odisha's failed privatisation experiments—including the cancellation of Reliance Power's licences and recent notices to Tata Power companies for poor service—AIPEF argued that privatisation consistently failed to deliver. In UP, AIPEF alleged collusion with corporate houses, pointing to irregularities in the privatisation process, including the appointment of Grant Thornton as a consultant despite its penalised record in the US. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why enterprise networks need both reach and resilience NetworkWorld | Tata Communications Undo The federation condemned the preparation of privatisation documents without proper asset valuation, potentially risking public assets worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. In Maharashtra, AIPEF criticised the "parallel license" model as a strategy to privatise profits, demanding its immediate cancellation. AIPEF also opposed privatisation in transmission and generation sectors, warning that tariff-based competitive bidding and joint ventures would lead to higher costs for consumers. It condemned the "repression of power employees through transfers, salary stoppages, and FIRs against union leaders". It demanded the withdrawal of these actions and urged consumers to support electricity workers in resisting privatisation. Representatives from power engineer associations across 20 states attended the meeting, signalling a united front against privatisation and a commitment to preserving the public character of India's power sector.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Amid CAG scrutiny, power federation warns of nationwide stir over privatisation moves
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has warned of a nationwide protest if the power privatisation plans in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are not withdrawn. In its federal council meeting held in Lucknow on Sunday, the federation termed the ongoing push for privatisation a 'mega scam' and alleged undervaluation of public assets worth over ₹1 lakh crore in Uttar Pradesh. The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) terms UP, Maharashtra push a 'mega scam'; seeks rollback (Sourced) The warning comes even as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is believed to have sought the complete dossier on the proposed privatisation of power distribution in 42 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The move comes following a complaint by the UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad, which raised concerns over the misuse of ₹44,094 crore sanctioned under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Parishad chairman Awadhesh Kumar Verma claimed that smart meter tenders worth ₹27,343 crore were issued despite a sanctioned limit of ₹18,885 crore. He alleged that inflated costs were being used to prepare the discoms for private takeover. The Federation accused authorities of bypassing legal provisions while drafting the privatisation roadmap. According to AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey, the request for proposals (RFPs) for Purvanchal and Dakshinanchal discoms were floated without assessing asset value or revenue potential, allegedly violating Section 131 of the Electricity Act, 2003. 'This will allow public assets to be handed over at throwaway prices,' he said, adding that it goes against the government's stated anti-corruption stand. The UP Electricity Regulatory Commission had earlier returned the privatisation plan, drafted by a global consultancy firm, citing serious legal and financial flaws. Citing Odisha's experience with power sector privatisation, the federation pointed to notices recently issued to Tata Power companies over service quality concerns. AIPEF also opposed private entry into power transmission and generation through tariff-based bidding and joint ventures.
Mint
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
27 lakh power sector employees to hold nationwide strike on 9 July over UP govt's move to privatise two discoms
More than 27 lakh power sector employees will observe a day-long nationwide strike on 9 July in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to privatise two discoms in the state. Shailendra Dubey, chairman of the All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF), said on Wednesday that the state government has decided to privatise Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL), which cover 42 of the state's 75 districts. "On the call of the umbrella body, National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), power employees, junior engineers, and engineers across the country have staged massive demonstrations against the privatisation of the discoms," he said. Dubey added that the umbrella body has now called for a massive protest on July 9 by 27 lakh power employees opposing the privatisation of the two UP discoms. Demonstrations will mainly be held in Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Rajkot, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Dehradun, Patiala, Jaipur, Kota, Hisar, and Lucknow. The strike on such a large scale may also affect the power supply across the country. "We will not be responsible if power supply is affected," Dubey warned. The power sector employees' union alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and certain senior state government officials are colluding with selected private players. They accused them of attempting to sell discom assets worth crores of rupees to private companies at throwaway prices. The AIPEF chairman said that if the discoms are privatised, farmers and economically weaker sections will be deprived of several benefits. Earlier in June, the Uttar Pradesh government invoked provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1966 (U.P. ESMA), prohibiting strikes in the electricity department for a period of six months. A notification to this effect was issued by the government. According to the notification, the strike ban covers all services under the following entities: Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (UPPCL); Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (UPRVUNL); Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (UPPTCL); Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (KESCO); Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (MVVNL); Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (PuVVNL); Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL); Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL); UP Renewable and EV Infrastructure Ltd. The press release noted that the decision was taken to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and prevent any disruption in essential electricity-related services across the state.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
27 lakh power sector employees to go on nationwide strike on July 9 over UP discoms' privatisation; allege foul play
Nearly 27 lakh power sector employees across India are set to stage a one-day nationwide strike on July 9, protesting the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to privatise two major electricity distribution companies , a move engineers claim could have far-reaching consequences for consumers and the sector at large. The All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF) on Wednesday said the strike has been called under the banner of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers ( NCCOEEE ), in opposition to the proposed privatisation of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL). 'These two discoms together serve 42 of the 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh,' said Shailendra Dubey, chairman of AIPEF. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Privatisation push sparks sector-wide protest Dubey said demonstrations are already underway nationwide and warned that the proposed July 9 strike — if carried out at full scale — could disrupt power supply in several regions. 'On the call of umbrella body National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), the power employees, junior engineers and engineers across the country have held massive demonstrations in protest against the privatization of the discoms,' he said. Live Events The federation has accused the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and some senior state officials of colluding with select private companies to hand over valuable public assets at 'throwaway prices.' Dubey alleged that the proposed move to privatise PVVNL and DVVNL is not just an economic decision, but one that could strip farmers and low-income households of subsidised benefits. 'Farmers and poor people will be deprived of several benefits if the discoms are privatised,' he said. He also issued a stark warning: 'We will not be responsible if power supply is affected.' The strike is expected to have a pan-India footprint, with major demonstrations planned in cities including Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Vadodara, Rajkot, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Dehradun, Patiala, Jaipur, Kota, Hisar, and Lucknow. The AIPEF has demanded a rollback of the privatisation decision and is urging state and central governments to consult with employees and engineers before implementing sweeping structural changes in the power sector.
