World · India Bureau
Power Outages Hit Gurugram as Staff Strike Over Privatisation Plan
Widespread electricity disruptions across Gurugram have triggered over 3,000 consumer complaints within a 12-hour period as employees of the power distribution utility staged a protest against proposed privatisation of services.
LSN India ·
Residents and businesses in Gurugram faced significant power supply disruptions on Tuesday as staff members downed tools to oppose plans for a private power distribution licence in the industrial city. The strike action resulted in a surge of service complaints, with utility officials recording more than 3,000 calls from affected consumers during the 12-hour period.
The industrial hub, which hosts numerous multinational companies and residential complexes, typically maintains high electricity demand across its commercial and domestic sectors. The sudden service disruption underscored the city's dependence on uninterrupted power supply for its economic operations.
Employees protesting the privatisation initiative have raised concerns about job security and working conditions under private management. The demonstration reflects broader anxieties within India's power sector regarding the government's push towards privatising distribution utilities in several states, a move intended to improve efficiency but often opposed by unions concerned about employment impacts.
Authorities have not yet announced measures to address the strike or timeline for resolution of the labour dispute. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between modernisation efforts and workforce concerns in India's power distribution infrastructure.