GURGAON: Haryana’s three-day power employees’ strike was called off on Friday after the state government moved to block the implementation of a parallel electricity distribution licence granted to Eleven Power Pvt Ltd for Gurgaon and Nuh, with energy minister Anil Vij announcing further legal action against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision.Vij said the government had opposed the licence from the outset and would pursue legal remedies, including issuing directions under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and filing a review petition under Section 94.
Haryana invokes Section 108 to block parallel power licences across state
The announcement followed a meeting between the minister and representatives of electricity employee unions in Panchkula. The unions declared that employees would return to work immediately and restore power supply.Vij said the government had not invited applications from private companies for parallel distribution licences. However, the Electricity Act allows eligible parties to approach the regulator for a licence, he added.The minister said the government had made its position clear from the beginning and had also explained it in the state assembly.He had urged other political parties that opposed the move to present their views before the commission.At Friday’s meeting, the government and union representatives agreed that Section 108 empowered the state to issue directions to HERC.Officials had been instructed to initiate action accordingly, Vij said, adding that a review petition would also be filed under Section 94.The minister said the government stood with electricity employees on the issue. Talks on their remaining demands would continue, with the next meeting scheduled for November 3 in Chandigarh.The strike, called to oppose the parallel distribution licence for Gurgaon and Nuh, had disrupted electricity supply across several areas, leaving households and businesses struggling with prolonged outages.Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed officials to immediately restore electricity supply in all districts affected by outages amid the power employees’ strike.Following his directions, HVPNL MD Aditya Dahiya and DHBVN and UHBVN MD Vikram Singh held a meeting with superintending engineers and executive engineers, instructing them to ensure uninterrupted supply.The government has sought a district-wise report on the power situation by midnight. Control rooms set up to handle emergencies will remain operational until Saturday.
