ITANAGAR, Nov 6: United Trade Unions as well as the employees of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited’s (NEEPCO) Pare HE Plant have vehemently opposed the Centre’s move to privatize or merge the NEEPCO with other central public sector units (CPSUs).
The trade unions and employees in a joint meeting on Tuesday discussed in detail about the Centre’s reported move to merge NEEPCO with other CPSUs and the proposed strategic sale of the Central government’s stake in the power company.
Stating that the move would have an adverse impact on the entire north eastern region, the united trade unions and the employees have urged the government drop the move or the proposal in the greater interest of the region.
“It has come as a shock to all of us the Government of India’s proposal for merger of NEEPCO with other CPSU or strategic sale of its stake. We firmly believe that it is not a prudent decision considering the overall interest of the region. The GoI’s decision will definitely put a halt in the process of socio-economic development of people of the NE region,” they said in a press statement.
“The NEEPCO is not only a people-oriented organization but has contributed to a large extent by way of providing employment to the people. More than 90 percent of the NEEPCO’s workforce belongs to the north eastern region. NEEPCO has been consistently trying to contribute its socio-economic obligations towards the region as well as to the nation by way of developing infrastructural facility and employment generation to people of the NE region,” it said.
They also appealed to all the NE state governments, elected representatives, political parties, various organizations and public to forward and raise voice against the GoI’s proposed move.
“NEEPCO is operating five hydro plants in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram and three thermal power plants in Assam and Tripura and also a solar plant in Tripura with total installed capacity 1457 MW. The 600 MW Kameng HE Project in Arunachal is also going to be commissioned within few months. The NEEPCO has provided lion share of electric power requirement in the entire Northeaster region,” the release said.
