Tamil Nadu   

Study working of State Electricity Boards, demands workers' union

Special Correspondent

Wants profitable boards identified and allowed to retain their character

CHENNAI: The Centre should keep in abeyance operation of the provision of Electricity Act 2003 which provides for unbundling of State Electricity Boards, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Workers' Progressive Union, affiliated to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-controlled Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), demanded here on Sunday.

The fourth State-level conference of the Union, in a resolution, called upon the Prime Minister and the Union Power Minister to act accordingly.

It demanded that the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Union Power Ministry should constitute an experts' panel to study the working of the SEBs, identify boards that can function profitably and allow them to retain their character.

The resolution said instead of requiring the Boards to follow a uniform pattern to become profitable, each utility should be allowed to adopt a suitable option. Steps for reducing transmission and distribution losses should be taken.

Wage revision

The Workers' Progressive Union called upon the State Government and the TNEB management to resolve the issue of wage revision at the earliest and pointed out that over four years had lapsed since the expiry of the previous settlement. It wanted the issue to be sorted out by September 15, failing which the union might have to resort to measures including issuing a call to strike work.

Regularisation of the services of contract workers, provision for free power supply to all the Board employees and timely promotion for those working on the sites of thermal and hydel power stations and general construction circles were among the union's demands.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin listed measures taken by his party, while in power, for the welfare of the working class. DMK treasurer N. Veerasamy, said if the party was voted back to power, it would fulfil the demands of the Union.

C. Kuppusamy, LPF president and Member of Parliament from the North Chennai constituency, said the Federation had been striving for the betterment of the workers.

S. Rathinasabapathy, general secretary of the Union, said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government should be removed as it was acting against the interests of workers.

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