Chandigarh, July 27: Power grid maintenance across Punjab is returning to standard schedules after employee leaders agreed to end their six-day strike following assurances from Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
The resolution followed marathon late-night talks, clearing the path for linemen and field technicians to resume fault repairs and power restoration duties statewide.
“The Finance Minister assured us that the committee will outline implementation strategies for our financial demands within the specified timeframe,” affirmed an employee spokesperson.
A crucial aspect of the settlement involved extending power concession privileges to post-2011 recruits, an issue that had remained unaddressed for several years.
The work stoppage had required Executive Engineers, Sub-Divisional Engineers, and outsourced personnel to cover extended shifts during peak load periods to keep feeder lines operating smoothly.
“Contractual workers have performed identical technical functions for years, making pay uniformity and service regularisation essential,” declared union representatives while discussing their core demands.
With the strike formally concluded, state power corporation management confirmed that punitive pay deductions will not be applied, while worker representatives affirmed they expect the review panel to meet all promised reporting dates.
