Puducherry, Oct 3 (BPNS)
The Government of the Union Territory of Puducherry has requested the Central government to provide the services of power grid officials to tackle the crisis in the power sector in the territory. It may be noted that the employees of the electricity department of the Union Territory are on an indefinite strike since September 28.
The employees are in agitation following the government’s move to invite tender to privatise power distribution. The Union Territory is facing a crisis with many parts of the territory plunged into darkness after some electricity staff allegedly took away fuse wires in some parts of the territory.
The Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilarasi Sounderrajan has warned the employees of stringent action and that Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) would be revoked against the employees. On Saturday night some parts of the state witnessed power cuts for five to seven hours and in some places, it continued till Sunday. People blocked the roads in Villiyanur and Ariyapalayam.
The state home minister, A. Namassivayam who also holds the electricity portfolio called an urgent meeting of the police officials and requested an additional company of CRPF.
In rural areas of Sedrapet and Madagadipet protestors blocked the road for hours on Sunday leading to the local legislators taking up the matter with the home minister.
Namassivayam held an emergency meeting with top police brass and the state Chief Secretary, Rajeev Verma on Sunday late night. The DG of Police, UT of Puducherry, Manoj Kumar Lal was also present.
While speaking to BPNS, the state home minister said, “We will not allow anyone to take law in their hands and taking away fuse carriers in sub-stations leaving general public including patients at the hospital at their mercy can never be allowed. We have requested the central government to deploy the services of Power Grid of India officials to control the situation as well as two companies of paramilitary force to stand guard to the power stations in the territory.
