Maharashtra Government Imposes MESMA Ahead Of Call For Two-Day Nationwide Strike

Electricity consumption in Maharashtra has already gone up at present and there is also a coal shortage in the state, reported PTI quoting government sources. 

Representational Image | File Image

New Delhi: The Maharashtra Government on Sunday invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) barring employees of state-run electricity companies from joining the two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions on March 28-29, reported PTI. 

Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut confirmed the invocation of MESMA.

Electricity consumption in Maharashtra has already gone up at present and there is also a coal shortage in the state, reported PTI quoting government sources. 

Staging a strike at this juncture will cause inconvenience to farmers, industries and the people in general, the sources said.

The government has so far ensured that there is no load shedding in Maharashtra despite the coal shortage and financial concerns. However, if the strike happens at this juncture, it will result in load shedding, quoted the news agency as sources said. 

The government does not want this to happen. People should not be inconvenienced and hence, MESMA has been invoked in the state today, the minister said.

Sources further said that the government is open to hold talks with representatives of unions of employees attached to the state's power companies like Maharashtra State Power Generation Company, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company over their concerns.

The employees of state-run electricity companies are against the alleged privatisation in the state, and so want to join the nationwide strike called by the union, the news agency stated. 

Issues can be resolved through dialogue. Why go on strike then? the sources added.