The Hindu Business Line : MSEB offices, workers attacked

MAHARASHTRA State Electricity Board (MSEB) offices and its workers were attacked at Pune, Nagpur, and Amravati on Monday by protestors opposing the new schedule of loadshedding in the State.

Mr Dilip Valse-Patil, Minster for Energy, told newspersons: "In a democracy, protest should be peaceful and such attacks will only demoralise MSEB workers."

The MSEB office at Pune was the worst hit; Shiv Sena activists reportedly entered the premises and set furniture ablaze in the visitors' room. They also broke the window panes and shouted slogans against the MSEB officials.

Mr Patil said that some of the activists threw petrol-soaked inflammables on the MSEB workers.

Taking into considerations the current power situation in the State, the MESB workers' union has postponed the indefinite strike that was to begin on May 3.

"The workers have long-pending issues relating to pay revision, pension and restructuring of MESB," said Mr Patil.

Admitting that the power situation was "hand-to-mouth", Mr Patil said that the State was buying 150 MW from Andhra Pradesh Transmission Company and 2,300 MW from the Central grid.

"By August 2006 we will have an extra 500 MW from the Parli and Paras projects. When the Dabhol project starts, we will have about 2,000 MW and from other projects 3,000 MW by 2009. But today we have a contingency," the Minister said.

The State has a daily power shortage of 3,000 MW and the situation is expected to change only with the onset of monsoon.

From June 1, five TMC of water from Koyna dam would be used for power generation, Mr Patil said.

Our Pune Bureau adds

A large number of Sena activists, who took out a march to the MSEB office at Rasta Peth to protest the prevailing power situation, went into the office of the Chief Engineer and started burning the furniture and also broke a few of them. The fire brigade and police officials rushed to the spot and cleared them away in their vans.

Mr Prahlad Salunke, Superintending Engineer, talking to presspersons, said that they only saw a group of people walking into the office and breaking the furniture. The Sena members requested MSEB officials to vacate the office, and immediately started breaking down the glass and set fire to the furniture.

MSEB officials brought in bottles of water to extinguish the flame even before the fire engine could arrive.

Mr Salunke said that with the power situation being critical, people should exercise more restraint.

"Only rains are the alternative and we appeal to the public at large to keep their patience," he said.

When asked whether police protection would be sought, Mr Salunke said that since the headquarters has been vandalised, protection will be asked for and depending on the need, it would be extended to all the MSEB offices, near and far.

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