Himachal Power board employees oppose privatisation

Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 11

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) Employees Union has opposed the move of the Union Ministry of Power to privatise distribution companies. The union said the government should have taken a lesson from the states where distribution is already privatised.

Moreover, HPSEBL was performing well and providing the best services to its consumers at an affordable price, making profit from the past three financial years.

Presiding over a district-level meeting of the union here today, HPSEBL general secretary Hira Lal Verma said the privatisation would have direct impact on consumers as there would be a sharp increase in the tariff, especially in the case of domestic consumers, and related services.

Keeping in view the interest of consumers and board staff, Verma requested the Chief Minister not to give his approval for privatisation of the distribution company, as proposed in the standard bidding documents (SBD).