Engineers of Southco, the power distributor in south Odisha, have threatened to take six days’ leave during coming Durga Puja as a mark of protest if their demands are not fulfilled by then.
The Southco unit of Odisha State Electricity Corporation Engineers’ Association (OSECEA) has taken this decision. Members of the association are also continuing dharna in front of the Southco corporate office in Berhampur. They have also detached themselves from revenue generation work as a mark of protest. “All the Southco engineers have decided to avail puja holidays from October 18 to 23, if the authorities fail to consider our demands,” said OSECEA vice-president Saroj Kumar Mishra.
If all the engineers avail holiday during this period, it would be major headache for the power distribution company as well as consumers since the need of maintenance would be high during the Puja festivities.
The OSECE members are protesting against lack of proper trained ground-level workmen. They alleged that electrical accidents during maintenance of power distribution network are on the rise. They add that since privatisation of power distribution companies, earlier practice of annual preparation of yardsticks for workmen and maintenance safety has been stopped in south Odisha. According to them, although power distribution in south Odisha is yet to use all new aspects of modern advanced technology, Southco has started reducing its field staff as per yardsticks of advanced technology.
They alleged that Southco is planning to manage with one lineman and one helper per 5,000 consumers in urban areas and 3,000 consumers in rural areas, which increases pressure on field staff.
