Ranchi:
A major part of Jharkhand remained without electricity for more than 24 hours today after the state electricity board union went on strike to protest against handing over the power distribution, billing, maintenance and other related assignments to two private power utilities.
Power outage has been reported from the state capital Ranchi and other major towns like Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Latehar. Despite the government evoking Emergency Maintenance Services Act (ESMA) last night, none of the employees have agreed to return for work.
Chief Minister Arjun Munda accused the union of not serving notice before going on stir. "They should have talked (to the government) before going on the strike," Mr Munda said in Jharkhand assembly today when Speaker CP Singh and other members raised the issue of disruption of power across the state.
"There was no power even in Ranchi," the Speaker informed the House as other members joined saying the problem was the same across the state.
The issue was raised in the house after the Jharkhand State Electricity Board signed Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Power and Calcutta Electric Supply Company (CESC) for franchisee for power distribution in Jamshedpur and Ranchi.
Replying to opposition's charges that the agreement would trigger loss to the exchequer, Mr Munda said it would give 80 per cent profit to the government and 20 per cent to vendors.
(With inputs from PTI)