Snap power blackout affects normal life

Imphal, Apr 1 : Power blackout in Imphal following joining of cease-work strike by the employees of the Electricity Department severely affected normal official works in government offices including secretariats.

In the meantime, a statement of the Manipur Electricity Employees' Union in a statement signed by its publicity secretary Soraisam Dwijamani circulated to the media informed that the cease strike has been deferred for some time following a talk with the Chief Engineer of the department today.

Due to the total blackout, normal working in government establishments including secretariat, the administrative backbone of the government paralyzed.

However, the blackout could not affect the Imphal Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's Bungalow.

"Working in the entire block of the secretariat disturbed from around 1 pm with power blackout without warning," an employee working in one of the block of the Old Secretariat who wanted not to name said.

The blackout also affected in the working in several sections of the Manipur Police Department.

Government sent out police forces to hunt out the employees of the electricity department in the efforts to resume the power supply but till late evening normal power supply in the VIP installations could not be resumed.

The Manipur Electricity Employee's Union which had earlier served ultimatum to the Manipur government to arrive at an amicable solution to the deadlock with the striking employees yesterday announced joining the cease work strike even though government warned of stringent action under Essential Service Act.

The deadlock between the government and its employees continue as both sides remaining stick to their guns.

Government said it has no funds to provide the arrears effective from January 2006 while the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation (AMGEO) and All Manipur Trade Union Congress (AMTUC) is claiming that enough funds for payment of arrears included in the grants awarded by the 13th Finance Commission.

It has been 75 days completed since the launching of the cease-work strike of the employees banner of the JAC which was commenced from January 17 last demanding in toto implementation of the revised pay bands on the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission from January 2006 .

While announcing the suspension of the strike of the employees of the electricity department, the statement of its publicity secretary said that the planned joining the cease work strike has been deferred after a talk with the Chief Engineer N Sharat today.

The body agreed to defer considering the damages caused to the electric post and other due to the heavy hailstorms swept across the state, the statement added.