In a move that could irk trade unions, the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (TANTRANSCO) has decided to hand over day-to-day operations, maintenance and emergency breakdown of the new 230 KV Sankarapuram sub-station at night and holidays on a contract basis. This is the first time that a substation operation, maintenance and breakdown work is being privatised.
Chennai:
According to latest TANTRANSCO proceedings dated August 12, the corporation approved the proposal for the two-year under works contract at the new Sankarapuram sub-station at a cost of Rs 93.67 lakh. “The chairman has also given his nod to the superintending engineer, operation, Villupuram to float and award the works contract for appointing a contractor,” it said.
T Jayasankar, president, Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees, said that the move to fully outsource the day-to-day operations of the sub-station was in violation of the tripartite agreement signed with trade unions on February 22, 2018. “In our last settlement, the management signed a tripartite agreement with trade unions and the labour commissioner regarding the work load and posting of personnel including those in sub-stations. The management cannot unilaterally decide on abolishing certain postings without holding talks with the union,” he said. He noted that earlier, personnel on contract basis were placed at three sub-stations in Madurai region in 2018 but now a complete sub-station work is being outsourced.
He added that all the unions had held demonstration across TN, including the headquarters, over the refusal of the TNEB chairman Pankaj Kumar Bansal to meet the union leaders. “A lot of unilateral decisions were being taken without consulting trade unions. The previous chairman of the electricity board used to meet the trade union leaders on a weekly basis to resolve issues. The new chairman is refusing to meet us,” he added.
A senior TANTRANSCO official said that the decision to award contract was taken after a lot of deliberation by the officials. “Soon tenders will be called for this,” the official added.