Power employees, engineers hold protest against privatisation

Srinagar, Feb 12: Hundreds of power engineers and employees on Thursday staged protests in Srinagar and other districts across J&K against the proposed privatization of the power sector, observing a complete boycott of work in response to a nationwide call given by the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) and NCCOEEE.

In Srinagar, the main protest was held at the Bemina Power Complex, where employees from different wings of the Power Development Department (PDD) assembled to register their opposition. Similar protests and work boycotts were reported from other districts of the Union Territory, affecting billing, maintenance, and administrative operations for the day.

The protest was organised under the banner of the Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee (PEECC). The committee said the agitation was aimed at opposing the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the proposed National Electricity Policy 2026, which, according to them, would pave the way for the privatization of power distribution and generation.

Addressing the gathering in Srinagar, Pirzada Hidayatullah, President JKEEGA and Vice Chairman of AIPEF, said that power employees were not against reforms but were opposed to policies that “undermine public interest and make essential services unaffordable.” Privatization of the power sector in a region like Kashmir, with its difficult terrain and sensitive socio-economic conditions, will only burden consumers with higher tariffs and weaken accountability,” Hidayatullah said. He added that public assets created with taxpayers’ money should not be handed over to private entities for profit.

The Coordination Committee said the protest witnessed participation from engineers, clerical staff, and daily-rated workers, reflecting widespread concern within the department. The committee reiterated its key demands, including the scrapping of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for power sector employees, and a one-time regularisation policy for daily wagers who have been working in the department for years. The committee also raised concerns over increased outsourcing in core power operations, stating that it was adversely affecting service delivery and long-term energy security in the Union Territory.

“Outsourcing of essential functions is weakening the department from within and compromising safety and efficiency,” they said, urging the government to address employees’ grievances through dialogue. The protest leadership warned that if their demands were not addressed, the agitation could be intensified in the coming days. “ If the government remains unresponsive, we will be compelled to escalate our protest,” the Coordination Committee said. Despite the boycott, the employees said that essential services were managed to avoid inconvenience to the public.