Haryana electricity workers strike disrupts power and water in Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh

What happened

On the night of Oct 24, workers of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) stopped work, citing the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to award a 25‑year parallel distribution licence to private firm Eleven Power for Gurugram and Nuh. The strike, slated to run until Oct 26, has knocked out electricity across Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh districts and, by extension, has halted water supply in many colonies.

Who is involved

• Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) – the state electricity distributor whose staff are on strike.
• Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) – the regulator that approved the Eleven Power licence.
• Eleven Power – the private company awarded the parallel licence.
• Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini – announced the state will challenge the HERC order before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL).
• Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh – met the striking employees but talks stalled.
• Industrialists Deepak Maini and others – reported halted production and potential losses.
• Resident Shiv Kumar Sharma – voiced frustration over the lack of power and water.

Impact on residents and industry

More than 3,000 electricity‑related complaints flooded the power department’s helpline within the first 12 hours, according to an official who asked to remain unnamed. Residential colonies in Gurugram switched to generators after inverter backups failed, while many households rely on water stored in tanks that officials warn will only last a few hours.

Industrial zones in Gurugram’s Daulatabad, Kadipur, Sector 37, Basai and Faridabad’s New Industrial Township‑2 have halted production. Deepak Maini, chair of the Progressive Federation of Trade and Industry, warned that prolonged outages could cost businesses “crores of rupees” and disrupt the supply chain for finished goods.

Government response

Chief Minister Saini said the state would represent the employees’ case before APTEL and engage lawyers trusted by the unions. He also chaired a review meeting with senior secretaries to coordinate disaster‑management measures and ensure essential services are restored.

Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh held an overnight meeting with DHBVN staff, urging a reconsideration of the strike. Police intervened in Faridabad’s New Industrial Township‑2 to disperse a road blockade after residents protested.

The Superintending Engineer of DHBVN’s Gurugram‑I operation circle could not be reached for comment, highlighting the difficulty of direct communication during the crisis.

What comes next

The strike is scheduled to continue until Oct 26. Authorities have pledged to keep disaster‑management teams on standby and to file a formal challenge to the HERC licence in the appellate tribunal. Meanwhile, residents are advised to conserve water stored in tanks and rely on backup generators where possible.

The episode underscores the delicate balance between pursuing privatisation reforms and maintaining uninterrupted public utilities, a balance the Haryana government says it will safeguard while respecting workers’ concerns.