A three-day strike by Haryana electricity department employees has severely disrupted daily life in Gurgaon, leaving thousands of households without power and water and affecting industrial operations. The protest began on October 21 night and intensified on Thursday, October 22, with some areas experiencing power cuts lasting more than 16 hours.
Thousands of Households Affected
The strike has affected residential colonies, industrial areas and rural pockets across Gurgaon. Residents reported exhausted inverter batteries, unattended electricity complaints and uncertainty over when power would be restored.
Water supply was also disrupted in several neighbourhoods because pumping stations and household motors depend on electricity. Old Gurgaon was among the worst-affected areas, with residents reporting widespread outages.
Factories Face Production Disruptions
Nearly 1,800 manufacturing units experienced disruptions, forcing some businesses to rely on diesel generators. However, prolonged generator use created additional challenges, including operating costs, overheating risks and pollution restrictions.
According to officials, more than 3,000 power outage complaints were received during the first 12 hours of the strike, while the utility’s helplines received around 5,000 complaints on Thursday.
Why Are Electricity Employees Protesting?
The strike has been called by electricity employees and engineers opposing the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s decision to grant a parallel electricity distribution licence to private company Eleven Power for Gurgaon and Nuh.
The unions fear the move could lead to privatisation, weaken the state-run Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and create uncertainty over employees’ job security.
Government Promises Legal Action
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said the state government will challenge the licensing decision before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity. The government has also urged employees to withdraw the strike and resolve the dispute through discussions.
The three-day strike is scheduled to continue until October 24. Employee unions have indicated that they will decide whether to extend the agitation if their demands remain unresolved.
With households, businesses and essential services facing the consequences, the dispute has raised concerns about the reliability of electricity supply and the future structure of power distribution in Haryana.
