From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Reports of a possible merger of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) with other central public sector undertakings, or a strategic sale of the central government’s stake, have sent trade unions of the Shillong-headquartered PSU into a tizzy.
All the four trade unions of NEEPCO had a joint meeting here on Tuesday and unanimously opposed such a prospect, apprehending that it would be detrimental to the Northeast and defeat the very purpose of incorporating the PSU.
“The united trade unions of NEEPCO would therefore like to place on record our strong opposition to any move of the government to merge NEEPCO with other CPSUs or privatise NEEPCO, as this step shall have an adverse impact on entire Northeastern region,” Pradip Bhattacharjee, spokesperson of the trade unions, told reporters here on Tuesday.
However, there has been no official communication about such a move. Reports of a Cabinet approval to the appointment of a transaction consultant to oversee the “merger/sale” have also irked the trade unions. “We have heard about the possibility from reports and through a section of the media. This has come as a shock to all of us as we firmly believe that it will not be a prudent decision considering the overall interest of the region. Operation of NEEPCO will be far more result-oriented if it is allowed to continue as a distinct corporate identity,” Bhattacharjee said.