Ahead of proposed strike, Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij says talks with employees underway
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij is engaged in ongoing negotiations with employee unions to prevent a proposed three-day strike scheduled for August 11-13. The minister addressed union concerns regarding privatization, smart meter implementation, and the formation of an Agri DISCOM, expressing optimism that a resolution will be reached.
Why it matters
The potential strike threatens to disrupt essential power services across Haryana, highlighting the ongoing tension between state-run utility management and labor unions over privatization and modernization policies.
Ahead of Energy Department employees’ unions proposed three-day strike from August 11 to 13, Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij on Friday (August 7, 2026) said that discussions with employees were underway, even as he expressed confidence that the government would be able to persuade them to withdraw the strike.
“The unions had primarily raised three key demands. The first was that electricity distribution should not be privatised through the grant of a parallel distribution licence. Responding to this concern, we have explained that the matter is currently before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), which is an autonomous statutory body and does not function under the Energy Department,” he said in Chandigarh.
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