CCORMAU to join nationwide protest against Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 9, 2021

The Coordination Committee Of Registered MeECL Associations & Unions (CCORMAU) has decided to join hands with the nationwide protest against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.  

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, CCORMAU said the nationwide protest against the proposed Bill is going on under the umbrella of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE).

It said that the NCCOEEE has decided “in case the central government moves Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the current session of parliament then on the same day work boycott along with day long demonstrations will be observed across the country.”

“In this regard, we would like to inform you that the CCORMAU being a constituent of the NCCOEEE will also participate in the work boycott on the day the Electricity (Amendment) Bill is placed before Parliament,” it stated in the memorandum.

On the reasons behind the opposition, the CCORMAU alleged that the statement of purpose of this Bill is misleading with the perceived intent to gain cheap popularity to win favour for the Bill and moreover it will have far reaching consequences as major structural changes have been proposed.

“This bill is trumpeted to bring power sector reforms whereas it is seen that the document will only facilitate the death knell of the power distribution companies and provide a red carpet to the private players to make open loot by making use of multi-billion rupees worth of infrastructure of electricity distribution with little or no investment,” it added.  

“(We therefore) write a strong letter opposing the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 & Privatization of Electricity Sector of Union Territories to all concerned for immediate withdrawal of this Bill and Draft Standard Bidding Document and to revoke the decision of Privatization of electricity sector UT’s, in the best interest of the Nation’s collective wellbeing and sustainable,” it further stated.