Speaking to ANI, Vij said he had held discussions with employee leaders and reiterated that dialogue, rather than a strike, was the appropriate way to settle the dispute. He said the government was prepared to consider alternatives proposed by the employees and was working towards a resolution.
"I have nearly resolved the situation. I just spoke with the employee leaders as well, and I've been telling them since day one that a strike is not the way. Come, let's talk. If you suggest any other way, we'll adopt that too. Yesterday, they demanded that the government invoke Section 108 to dismiss this order, which we can do. I've also spoken with the Chief Minister, and this morning I tweeted that we will invoke Section 108. The union leaders have agreed, and they've consented to a meeting in Panchkula at 3 PM today. I'm confident that the strike will end in just a few hours," Vij said.
The three-day statewide strike by electricity employees and engineers was scheduled from October 22 to 24. The employees have been protesting against the entry of a private power distributor in Gurugram and Nuh, following a decision by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) to grant a 25-year parallel electricity distribution licence to Eleven Power Private Limited.
On the first day of the strike, Vij had described the protest as unwarranted and said the government was challenging the regulatory order permitting a private company to distribute electricity in parts of Haryana.
"This strike is unwarranted. The regulator has ordered that electricity be supplied to a private company. We strongly opposed the company's application before the Haryana regulator, but the decision went against us. I am against privatisation because we have invested heavily in infrastructure and the services of our employees are at stake... The central law allows any individual or company to apply for electricity supply. We are appealing against the regulator's order and trying to obtain a stay... I urge employee leaders to abandon the strike and instead help us prepare the case...," he said in Ambala.
The dispute centres on HERC's order dated October 19, which permits a second electricity distribution licensee to operate alongside the existing distributor in Gurugram and Nuh. The decision gives more than 8.3 lakh consumers, including households, farmers, shops, offices and industrial units, the option to choose their electricity supplier as the new distribution network reaches their areas.
The licence covers the Gurugram and Nuh revenue districts, including Gurugram City, Gurugram Sub-urban, Manesar, Sohna and Nuh. The network is scheduled to be developed in phases over five years, with Nuh included in the first phase. Consumer electricity supply through the new distribution network is planned to begin in the financial year 2027-28.
The project envisages a capital investment of Rs 4,717 crore between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31 under HERC's regulatory oversight. According to the proposal, the network will incorporate smart meters, digital billing, a distribution management system and infrastructure aimed at improving supply reliability and grievance redressal. The proposed power procurement mix comprises 80 per cent electricity from renewable sources and 20 per cent from thermal sources.
The Commission's order marks the introduction of parallel electricity distribution in Haryana. Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, permits more than one distribution licensee to operate in the same area.
Existing consumers will not be required to take any immediate action, and the current distribution licensee will continue supplying electricity across the region. Consumers will have the option to switch to the new distributor once its network reaches their areas.
Under the order, the new licensee is required to submit a detailed implementation plan for the first phase and a protocol for consumers opting to switch within 60 days.
With union leaders agreeing to meet the government in Panchkula at 3 PM, Vij has expressed confidence that the strike could end within hours. The outcome of the meeting is expected to determine the immediate course of the dispute over the proposed parallel electricity distribution system in Gurugram and Nuh.
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