Telangana power employees protest
Amid reports that the State government plans to hand over the collection of power bills in the Old City to the Adani Group, the Telangana State United Electricity Employees Union has mobilized its members for a massive protest against the privatization of power services in the State.
During a recent meeting, Employees Union president K. Eshwar Rao informed power staff that the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TGSPDCL) management is working to transfer revenue collection and meter reading functions in the South Circle to a private company. He urged members to prepare for a statewide agitation against this move.
Citing high transmission losses, the State government is considering handing over meter reading and bill collection to the Adani Group. However, Rao argued that privatizing electricity supply is not in the best interest of power utilities, consumers, and employees. He emphasized that Discom employees, engineers, and artisans are deeply concerned about this issue.
Rao criticized the privatization proposal, noting that private companies operate with a profit motive, which would place an additional burden on consumers. He pointed out that similar privatization and urban distribution franchisee models have failed across the country, making such a move in Hyderabad unwise.
Discom officials stated that while normal transmission losses in Hyderabad city are around 10 percent, the South Circle, which includes major parts of the Old City, experiences a staggering 40 to 42 percent loss, primarily due to theft.
The Telangana Power Employees Joint Action Committee (TGPEJAC) recently submitted a representation to TGSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director Musharaff Ali Faruqui, urging him to persuade the government to drop any proposal of handing over power supply and bill collection in Hyderabad South Circle or any part of Discom to the Adani Group or any other private company.
The power employees union has warned that they will escalate their agitation if the government does not abandon the privatization move. Recently, the union held a lunch-hour demonstration at the TGSPDCL office to protest against the privatization plan.