Haryana power employees end strike after govt assures HERC order review

Power department employees in Haryana on Friday called off their strike after the state government addressed their concerns over the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's (HERC) decision to grant a parallel electricity distribution licence to a private company in Gurugram and Nuh districts.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced the withdrawal of the strike in Panchkula in the presence of Energy Minister Anil Vij and representatives of the employees' unions.

Saini said the employees had agreed to resume work following discussions with the government.

The chief minister said the state government had directed HERC to review and cancel its order granting the licence to the private company.

He also assured that electricity supply disrupted during the agitation would be restored.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

Around 40,000 electricity department employees had begun a three-day strike on Thursday, opposing the entry of a private power distribution company in Gurugram and Nuh.

The agitation was called by the Haryana Bijli Karamchari and Engineers Joint Sangharsh Morcha against HERC's decision to grant a parallel distribution licence.

The strike disrupted electricity supply across several residential and industrial areas, affecting households, water services, industrial production and other essential activities.

Its impact was reported in several parts of Haryana, including Gurugram, as well as Chandigarh.

At some locations, residents staged road blockades to protest prolonged power outages.

The disruption raised concerns among consumers and industries as electricity department employees continued their protest against the regulatory decision.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Earlier on Friday, Energy Minister Anil Vij said the government had invited striking employees for discussions to resolve the dispute.

Expressing optimism over the talks, Vij said he hoped the agitation would end "in a few hours".

Following the discussions, union representatives agreed to withdraw the strike, bringing the protest to an end before the completion of its scheduled three-day duration.

The government's assurance to seek a review and cancellation of the HERC order addressed the principal demand raised by the employees.

With the strike withdrawn, power department personnel are set to return to duty, while authorities work to restore electricity supply in areas affected by the disruption.