Gurugram homes, industries hit by outages as power workers protest privatisation

Power supply disruptions were reported across Gurugram on Thursday after electricity department employees launched an indefinite protest against the proposed privatisation of power distribution in Haryana. Several residential neighbourhoods experienced outages, prompting some residents to step out onto the streets as the city grappled with interruptions.

The industrial belt was also affected, with units in Daulatabad, Kadipur and Sector 37 among the areas hit by the outages. The disruptions have raised concerns about the possible consequences for commercial operations in Gurugram, one of Haryana's key economic centres.

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Dispute over private distribution licence

The protest follows a decision by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) to allow private firm Eleven Power to distribute electricity alongside the existing provider in Gurugram and Nuh under a 25-year licence.

Electricity workers' unions have opposed the arrangement, arguing that it threatens employees' interests and could work against the public good. They have expressed concern that allowing a private operator into areas that generate substantial revenue could weaken the state-run Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN). The unions have also objected to a private company gaining access to electricity infrastructure developed using public resources.

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Unions flag concerns over jobs and consumer costs

A joint forum of electricity employees had called for a statewide strike from October 22 to 24 to challenge the move towards privatisation. The unions have cautioned that the proposed change could push up electricity expenses for consumers, farmers and small businesses.

They have also raised concerns about employment security, saying the livelihoods of nearly 40,000 regular, contractual and outsourced workers and engineers could be affected.

Another concern raised by the unions is that a private distributor may prioritise profitable urban consumers while the responsibility and financial burden of supplying electricity to rural areas and agricultural users remain with state-owned utilities.