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Dimmer UP recruits new engineers as SEB employees strike work

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

About 100,000 engineers of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board struck work from Monday midnight, sparking a power crisis of a different kind in the cash-starved most populous state of India.

The strike is against the proposed power sector reforms and the SEB's revamp which the employees allege are being initiated at the behest of the World Bank.

Chief Minister Kalyan Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party adopted a firm posture, ordering disconnection of power supply to residences of the striking engineers. "It's high time they learnt how it feels to go without power," he said in Lucknow.

"If they don't report for work, they have no business to continue enjoying the privilege of heavily subsidised power supply," he added for good measure.

The UPSEB top brass meanwhile showed they cannot appreciate the striking employees's rigid stand. In a seemingly provocative action, appointment orders for 85 new engineering recruits were issued today. "Let the strikers know we mean business," a spokesperson said.

He added: "A sizable number of engineers and employees had defied the strike call and reported to duty. Despite the strike, we have been able to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all corners of the state."

However, UP's Energy Minister Naresh Agarwal admitted that power generation in the state had dropped since last night due to the strike but asserted the availability of power would not be affected.

He dismissed reports that power generation had come down substantially. ''The generation has dropped but we were prepared for that.''

Agarwal said the state was importing power to the tune of 3,000 mega-watts which, added to the present generation in the state, would be sufficient to meet the daily requirements.

He reiterated the stand of the government saying there would be no compromise on the demand of the power men and the reforms would start as scheduled.

He said a list was being prepared of the employees who joined the strike, and action will be taken against them.

Strict instructions had been issued to the district magistrates to ensure timely action against those who indulged in sabotage and other disruptive activities, the energy minister said.

Additional reportage: UNI

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Uttar Pradesh