Over 900 BEST engineers observed an unofficial five-day-week schedule and stayed away from work on Saturday. The engineers had not reported for work last Saturday as well, which affected electricity supply redressal. They were served with notices threatening penal action under the provisions of MESMA on July 23 by the BEST management.
The BEST administration relied on its 175-odd Grade A officers to fill in for absent Grade-B staff. BEST spokesperson Hanmanth Gofane said, “There were around 20 faults reported to the nine BEST control rooms. Power supply disruptions were handled with temporary connections, and repairs will be taken up later. Also, of the 936 engineers who absented themselves, five per cent of engineers who were on night shift on Friday are available to handle power issues. We have faced not major problems.”
Meanwhile, the BEST Engineers Action Committee (BEAC) that launched the mass casual leave agitation to press for a five-day work week along with other long-pending demands, met BEST chairperson Mohan Mithbaokar and BJP leader Atul Bhatkalkar. BEAC convenor Suhas Nalawde said a meeting has been scheduled with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on August 1, 2016, and all engineers are requested to return to work.
He said, “We have asked around 40 engineers to man the night shift on Saturday. We also considered the rains last night, which caused power outages.”
The writer is a freelance journalist
