Electricity employees across Haryana have gone on a three-day strike to protest the government's decision to hand over power supply licenses to a private company in Nuh and Gurgaon. The industrial action has immediately impacted daily life, leaving large parts of Gurgaon and Faridabad grappling with sudden power outages.
Over 3,000 Complaints Flooded in Within 12 Hours
In Gurgaon, power supplies began failing across various residential zones starting at 10 PM last night. The scale of the disruption became immediately apparent as the electricity board received more than 3,000 complaints regarding interrupted power supply within just 12 hours of the strike commencing. Department officials noted that grievances started pouring in late at night, with 945 complaints logged overnight, followed by an overwhelming 2,245 complaints received in a mere two-hour window during the morning. Complaints continue to surge through online portals and call center helplines.
Forty Percent of Gurgaon Plunged into Darkness
According to electricity union representatives, workers were compelled to take to the streets due to broken promises by the administration. Despite warnings issued to the authorities two days prior, officials allegedly ignored employee demands, prompting the three-day symbolic strike from Wednesday night. With staff refusing to repair network faults since late last night, approximately 40 percent of Gurgaon has been left completely powerless. Residents are struggling without basic drinking water, and women are forced to cook meals using flashlight illumination.
Faridabad Hit Hard with Locked Offices and Blankets of Darkness
The strike's impact extended beyond Gurgaon, affecting both urban sectors and rural villages alike in Faridabad. Blackout conditions crippled daily routines, causing widespread inconvenience for citizens. Throughout the district, most electricity board offices remained locked as employees joined the agitation.
Protests and Threats of Indefinite Agitation
To ensure the strike's success, workers staged demonstrations outside multiple power offices, registering their strong protest by burning copies of disputed orders. Faridabad Circle HSEB Worker Union Secretary Lekhraj stated that while a three-day strike has been announced, workers are fully prepared to transition into an indefinite strike if their demands are ignored by the government.
Government Defense and Statements from Anil Viz
Meanwhile, Power Minister Anil Viz maintained that the strike has had no significant impact and insisted that the administration has made adequate arrangements. He described the agitation as entirely unjustified, explaining that the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission had ordered the allocation of power to a private company. Viz stated that the department had strongly contested the move before the regulatory body using prominent legal representation, but emphasized that as an autonomous institution operating under central statutory provisions, any individual or company is legally permitted to apply for power distribution rights.
