Ahead of proposed strike, Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij says talks with employees underway
Referring to their second demand regarding smart meters, Mr. Vij said that no tenders have yet been floated for the project and that the proposal is still under process
Ahead of a proposed three-day strike by Energy Department employees, scheduled from August 11 to 13, Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij announced on Friday that talks with the unions are currently underway. Despite this, the minister expressed confidence that the government would be able to dissuade the employees from going on strike.
The unions had raised three main demands, with the first being the prevention of electricity distribution privatization through a parallel distribution license. The minister clarified that this matter is under review by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), an autonomous statutory body not under the Energy Department's control.
Regarding the second demand concerning smart meters, Vij stated that no tenders have been issued yet, and as such, this concern is also addressed. As for the unions' third demand related to the proposed Agri DISCOM, the Energy Minister noted that while Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini mentioned the proposal during the Assembly session, there has not been any discussion yet between them on the matter, making it premature to comment on future actions.
The minister affirmed the government's commitment to dialogue, stating that discussions with the unions are ongoing, with Energy Department officers and officials engaged in ongoing conversations. He expressed confidence that the government would be able to persuade the employees to withdraw the strike.
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