State suffers power outage, peeves CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 10 2021: Amidst the on-going cease work strike of electricity employees demanding implementation of 7th Pay Commission, many areas of the state experienced power outage on Friday.

In connection with the strike, talks were going on till late night between representatives of employees' union and government officials, but there is no report of any agreement reached till the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, chief minister N Biren has expressed utter displeasure against various employee organisations and public in relation tp the Friday's blackout.

In his Facebook post on Friday, Biren stated that talks are going on with regard to the strike of the electricity employees and an agreement will be reached very soon.

Without naming any organisation, the chief minister went on to say that at these trying times of Covid-19, "some have submitted letters warning that they will stop caring for patients if their pay is not increased, some not to enter examination hall when students are about to give their exams if their pay is not increased, some threatening to cut off power supply if their pay is not increased, this are the people who make our state Manipur!" He continued that they ban oil production, they ban gas production, they ban cement production, they ban issuing of foreign liquor licence, all that could generate revenue for the state.

This is where we are living! After shutting down pre-paid electricity counters at its Keishampat office, Thoubal and Kakching districts on Thursday, the third day of the indefinite cease work strike launched by the power department over non-implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) resulted in widespread blackout in different parts of the state on Friday.

As per reports received here, stoppage of power supply to some VIP area, likely to be connected with the on-going agitation, as well as in many districts, prompted the state government to engage the representatives of the peeved employees in talks.

As part of the ongoing protest, employees of Electricity Department also shut down offices in various districts of the state and staged sit-in protests.

Speaking on the sidelines of one such sit-ins staged in front of the gate of Keishampat Power House here on Friday, JAC co-convenor Seram Sunnyboy reasoned that sit-ins were staged in accordance with its previous announcements, following the state government's failure to implement 7th CPC.

Although the demand for implementation of the 7th CPC was repeatedly made to the CM and other authorities concerned along with submission of relevant documents, no action has been taken up till date.

As such, the protest was launched against the inaction of the authorities concerned on the matter till date, he added.

He then conveyed that as the protest encompasses closure of offices, prepaid counters and division offices across the state, several areas of the state have been experiencing power cuts.

As such, the JAC expressed its regret to the people for the inconveniences caused.

The cease work strike by employees of MSPCL and MSPDCL also badly affected Noney as many areas in the district suffered power outage.

MSPCL and MSPDCL employees of Noney district staged sit-in-protest Friday and did not repair mechanical failure of electric lines thereby rendering many areas in the district without electricity.

General population especially, the common people suffered most.

Meanwhile, the people of Noney district appealed to the government to look into the matter seriously and deal the problem knowing the pulse of the people.

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