Maharashtra Govt's Free Power To Farmers Leads To Shortages & Fear Of Violence In Electricity Board
By Sanjay Sharma, Section Top Stories
Posted on Tue Dec 14, 2004 at 06:03:05 AM EST
PUNE: Heavy load shedding is being enforced all over Maharashtra to tide over the 3000 MW power shortfall in the wake of the free power sop announced by the state government.
- Even Puneites are facing 15 hour load shedding every week,
- while rural areas are forced to suffer power cuts of over 6 hours every day.
The rural areas have started venting their ire against the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) staff, compelling prominent unions to demand protection for the staff."Besides load shedding, we also have to face the villagers' ire when we go to disconnect illegal connections or recover dues", an official revealed adding that many a times the mob was instigated by local politicians.
- Officials in MSEB Pune rural circle told TNN on Monday that although no incident of violence has been reported so far in the circle the staff was constantly under the fear of an attack. "We feel that anything can happen in the coming days as things go from bad to worse", an official revealed.
- Hanumant More, organising secretary of the Subordinate Engineers Association told TNN that his union has already demanded protection for the staff. "Things have reached such a stage that the staff feels scared of going to work. When a mob comes barging in, the staff can not do anything", he stated.
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From The Times of India - December 13, 2004 - by Manjri Damle
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/957429.cms
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