Power engineers up in arms,hold protests
Tribune News Service

Hisar, April 6
The Haryana Power Engineers Association has opposed the decision of the Haryana Power Generation Corporation to lease four units of the Panipat Thermal Power Plant.

A press note issued by the association said here today that need-based renovation and modernisation (R&M) be carried out for units No. 3 and 4 and the decision to lease four units of thermal plant should be withdrawn forthwith.

It said the decision taken by Haryana Power Generation Corporation to lease four units of Panipat Thermal Plant on a long-term basis had not only caused widespread antipathy among the power engineers, but has also lowered the morale of employees.

The corporation had decided to engage an agency that would take over the Panipat Thermal Plant on a long-term lease, rehabilitate units 3 and 4, operate and transfer units 1 to 4 for a period of 10 years on the basis of competitive bidding.

The decision was taken even though this was not on the agenda of that meeting.

The press note said it was wrong on the part of the government to hand over capital assets to private companies for exploitation. Such a move would derail the entire process of increasing the generation capacity in Haryana.

Power engineers posted at the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant at Khedar also staged a demonstration to oppose the move.

Panipat: Thermal engineers on Thursday held protest meetings at all three thermal power plants to express resentment against leasing four units of the Panipat thermal plant.

The Haryana Power Generation Engineers Association said it was an immature decision, taken in haste and should be withdrawn immediately.

The association alleged that thermal power plants in Haryana were being fed poor-quality coal and the management should work to improve the quality of coal rather than handing over costly assets of the power utility to private players.