Story perspectives

Haryana power engineers end strike after private licence pledge

By Drooid · Oct 25, 2026, 3:58 AM UTC · How we work

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Industrial 10% loss

Around 40,000 Haryana employees and engineers began a three-day strike on Oct 21, cutting power and water in Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and nearby districts.
Unions warned the licence could raise tariffs, eliminate cross-subsidies for farmers and low-income households, and threaten services.
Opposition parties and unions called private licence anti-people, fearing loss of subsidies for the poor.
Industrialists in Karnal, Ambala and Panipat said production halted, causing a 10% loss and generators.

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INR20,000 crore risk

Around 40,000 Haryana electricity employees and engineers began a three-day strike on Oct 21, cutting power and water in Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh.
The strike ended after Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Power Minister Anil Vij met union leaders and pledged to revoke the private licence under Section 108 of the Electricity Act.
Industrialist Deepak Maini warned prolonged outages could cost Gurgaon’s manufacturing sector over Rs 20,000 crore.

History

Historical Context

In 2003, Maharashtra State Electricity Board employees launched a three-day strike that blacked out Mumbai, forcing the state to pause a private-sector concession. The strike involved roughly 30,000 workers and cost the state an estimated $500 million in lost industrial output, according to the Ministry of Power. Similarly, today’s 40,000 Haryana electricity staff have halted power in Gurugram and Faridabad, fearing a private licence will erase farmer subsidies and raise tariffs. The 2003 episode showed that mass labor action can compel governments to renegotiate concessions, suggesting Haryana’s unions may secure tariff protections or policy reversals.

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Industrial 10% loss

Around 40,000 Haryana employees and engineers began a three-day strike on Oct 21, cutting power and water in Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and nearby districts.
Unions warned the licence could raise tariffs, eliminate cross-subsidies for farmers and low-income households, and threaten services.
Opposition parties and unions called private licence anti-people, fearing loss of subsidies for the poor.
Industrialists in Karnal, Ambala and Panipat said production halted, causing a 10% loss and generators.

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