📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vikramdeep Sidhu from Jhajjar, India
Jobs & Career
40,000 Haryana Power Employees Strike Over Private Licence Issue
✍️ The Tribune
🗓 23 Oct 2026, 04:37 AM
👁 9
Around 40,000 staff of Haryana's power department have commenced a strike protesting the granting of a private licence, raising concerns over service continuity.
A massive walkout involving roughly 40,000 employees of the Haryana Power Department began today, after the state government approved a private licence for certain electricity operations. Workers say the licence undermines job security and could affect the quality of power supply to households and industries.
Union leaders have called for an immediate suspension of the licence and demand that the government engage in dialogue with employee representatives. They warn that continued disruption could leave millions without electricity and water, as many water pumps rely on power from the grid.
The state administration has acknowledged the strike and indicated that it will review the licence terms, but has not given a timeline for resuming normal services. Officials stress that essential services will be prioritized, though the scale of the protest makes restoration challenging.
Experts note that labor unrest in the power sector can have cascading effects on other utilities, especially in a state like Haryana where agriculture and industry depend heavily on reliable electricity. The situation remains fluid as negotiations continue.
Authorities have urged the public to conserve electricity and report any outages, while urging both sides to seek a swift resolution to avoid prolonged disruption.
Union leaders have called for an immediate suspension of the licence and demand that the government engage in dialogue with employee representatives. They warn that continued disruption could leave millions without electricity and water, as many water pumps rely on power from the grid.
The state administration has acknowledged the strike and indicated that it will review the licence terms, but has not given a timeline for resuming normal services. Officials stress that essential services will be prioritized, though the scale of the protest makes restoration challenging.
Experts note that labor unrest in the power sector can have cascading effects on other utilities, especially in a state like Haryana where agriculture and industry depend heavily on reliable electricity. The situation remains fluid as negotiations continue.
Authorities have urged the public to conserve electricity and report any outages, while urging both sides to seek a swift resolution to avoid prolonged disruption.