Full Breakdown
Power Workers’ Strike Halts Electricity in Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
On October 19, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) granted a 25-year parallel distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited for the Gurugram and Nuh districts. Employees of the state-run distributors—Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN)—announced a three-day strike, saying the licence threatens job security and cross-subsidies for farmers and low-income households.
Timeline
- October 19: HERC issues the licence.
- October 21: Power faults begin after 10 pm, triggering outages.
- October 22: About 40,000 electricity-department employees start a statewide strike scheduled through October 24.
Data & Statistics
- Workforce participation: ~40,000 regular, contractual and outsourced staff.
- Consumer impact: Over 8.3 lakh electricity consumers in the two districts.
- Complaint volume: >3,000 outage complaints logged in the first 12 hours.
- Revenue: DHBVN earns roughly INR450-500 crore monthly from Gurugram.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents in Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh reported darkness after 10 pm on October 21. In many colonies, inverter batteries died, forcing reliance on generators. Water-pumping stations stopped, leaving communities with limited stored water. Industrial units in Daulatabad, Kadipur, Basai and Sector 37 halted production, citing losses in crores. Workers in Faridabad’s New Industrial Township-2 gathered on roads demanding restoration; in Nuh districts such as Punhana and Nagina daily life was severely disrupted.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the state will appeal HERC’s order before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) and will provide lawyers chosen by the unions.
- Energy Minister Anil Vij reiterated opposition, calling the decision contrary to the government’s anti-privatisation stance and confirming a legal challenge.
- Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh met striking employees on October 21, urging reconsideration; talks ended without agreement.
- HERC noted its rules allow any firm to apply for a licence under the Electricity Act 2003, without commenting on the strike.
Criticism & Opposition
Union leaders—including Subhash Lamba (Electricity Employees Federation of India), Shailendra Dubey (All India Power Engineers Federation) and Devender Singh Hooda (Joint Front)—condemned the licence as a step toward back-door privatisation that could jeopardise jobs and raise costs. Farmer representative Rattan Mann (BKU) warned it might erode cross-subsidies for agricultural users. INLD patron Sampat Singh argued that dual distributors could create uncertainty for consumers and the public sector.
What’s Next
The Haryana government is preparing a legal challenge to HERC’s decision before APTEL. The strike is set to end on October 24, after which utilities aim to restore supply to residential and industrial customers. District administrations have been directed to prioritise essential services—hospitals, water facilities and metro operations—during any remaining outages.