By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand has been given 45 days time by the central government to divide its state electricity board, a division that was deferred for the 13th time following pressure from the employees.
The state government was scheduled to divide the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) by Sep 30.
“We deferred the division considering the fact that employees will go on strike. We sought two months time from the central government and have been given 45 days time to divide the board,” a JSEB official told IANS.
Two years ago, the state government had decided on dividing JSEB into four parts — generation, transmission, distribution and holding companies. Opinion was sought from the employees on which division they wanted to shift to. The employees gave their option but threatened to strike work if their service conditions were not protected.
The state government had said it would incorporate new conditions as per the new laws of the board.
A case relating to division of JSEB is pending in Jharkhand High Court.
But the delay in division is leading to worsening of the state’s power scenario. Even state capital Ranchi is witnessing more than six hours of power cuts every day. During heavy rain, there is a total blackout in the state.
Jharkhand produces only 30 percent of the power consumed in the state.