Massive Rally of Power Engineers, Power Employees, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Consumers at Nuh Demands Rejection of Parallel Distribution Licence
Massive Rally of Power Engineers, Power Employees, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Consumers at Nuh Demands Rejection of Parallel Distribution Licence
Chandigarh, July 21
A massive joint rally of power engineers, electricity employees, representatives of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, and electricity consumers was held today at Nuh, Haryana, expressing strong opposition to the proposed grant of a Parallel Distribution Licence in the state.
Rally was mainly addressed by Shailendra Dubey, Chairman AIPEF, Subhash Lamba, Vice President EEFI, Ravinder Ghanghas, General Secretary of Haryana Power Engineers, Employees leader Suresh Rathi, SKM leader Yoginder Nain and other leaders.
Thousands of participants unanimously resolved that the introduction of parallel distribution through private licensees would seriously undermine the public electricity distribution system, increase tariffs for ordinary consumers, weaken cross-subsidy, and ultimately pave the way for privatization of the power sector.
Following the rally, a memorandum was submitted to the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) demanding the immediate rejection of the Parallel Distribution Licence application. The memorandum also called for the dissolution of the so-called Expert Committee constituted by the Commission, alleging that the committee has been constituted in an arbitrary and unconstitutional manner and lacks the impartiality required for adjudicating such an important public issue.
Addressing the gathering, AIPEF Chairman Er. Shailendra Dubey stated that permitting private companies to use the existing public distribution network while selectively targeting high-paying consumers would financially cripple state-owned distribution utilities and impose a heavier burden on farmers, domestic consumers, and small commercial establishments.
He further stated that electricity is an essential public service and should not be converted into a profit-driven business at the cost of public interest. AIPEF reiterated that the Electricity Act does not permit discrimination among consumers and that any attempt to create multiple licensees on the same public network would violate the principles of universal and equitable electricity supply.
The rally witnessed active participation from power engineers, electricity employees, farmers’ organizations affiliated with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, consumer representatives, and trade union leaders, who pledged to intensify the movement if the concerns of the people are ignored.
AIPEF urged HERC to uphold transparency, fairness, and the larger public interest by rejecting the Parallel Distribution Licence application and withdrawing the unconstitutionally constituted committee. The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the public power sector and ensuring affordable and reliable electricity for all consumers.
