Maharashtra electricity strike today: Thousands of employees of three state-owned power companies went on a 72-hour strike on Wednesday to protest against the privatisation of power firms even as the government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), a leader from the employees' union said. Thousands of employees of the three companies were participating in the strike which started from midnight, Krushna Bhoir, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, told PTI.


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The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments. Bhoir said the state government has called them for a meeting and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will meet members of the action committee of the employee unions at the Sahyadri Guest House here at around 1 pm.


"More than 30 unions of drivers, wiremen, engineers and other employees have come together to thwart the attempt of privatisation in the state-owned power companies," Krushan Bhoir, general secretary of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation told news agency PTI.


The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) are the state-owned power companies.


Maharashtra electricity strike


Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had started an agitation last month over their various demands. Their major demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary.


"Nearly 86,000 employees, officers and engineers of the three power companies, along with 42,000 contract employees and security guards will go on a 72-hour strike starting Wednesday to protest against privatisation," Bhoir said.


Why is Mahavitaran on strike?


In November last year, an Adani group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai. Adani Electricity Navi Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission, had applied to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a parallel licence for power distribution under the jurisdiction of Mahavitaran in Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Taloja and Uran areas.


"There are no financial demands in this agitation, but we want these power companies owned by people of the state to survive. These should not be sold to private capitalists who intend to only make profit," Bhoir said.


In the strike notice given to the state government last month, the action committee has also warned of an indefinite strike from January 18, if the demands are not met, he added.


Addressing a press conference, Vishwas Pathak, an independent director of Mahavitaran, said two private companies had applied for a parallel distribution licence in the state, but this is not privatisation.


"Issuing a parallel licence is not privatisation. The government owns Mahavitaran and it has 100 per cent holding in it. That will not be affected," Pathak said.


There is a provision for issuing parallel licence under the Electricity Act 2003 and 2010 and any private distribution company can come forward for the same, he said.


The MERC is responsible for issuing licences and the state government has no role to play in it, Pathak said.


Strike in Maharashtra


Meanwhile, in light of the 72-hour strike, the Mahavitaran has set up a control room starting midnight for the Kalyan division to ensure uninterrupted power supply to its consumers, an official said.


As per a release from the power authority, the control room has been set up for areas coming under Kalyan zone, which includes Vasai and Palghar.


The Mahavitaran will take the help of employees who are on strike, contract workers, retired employees and trainees to man the services, it said.


The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government invoked MESMA on Tuesday night, after employees of the power companies warned of the strike, so that law and order is maintained and public property is protected in the state.


"In view of the strike notice served by Maharashtra state electricity employees, officers, engineers, sangharsh sameetee (approx 30 unions)...The Government has decided to invoke provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act-2017 to ensure normalcy in the state," the government resolution said.