Fearing job loss, officers and employees of Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) have decided to protest the board’s decision to hand over the power distribution work for Patna to Mumbai-based Essar Power.

The private agency would be responsible for the supply and distribution of electricity, revenue collection, maintenance of low-tension lines, attending fuse-off calls and others.

The board started the process of appointing private companies for power distribution in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Gaya in 2009. It issued fresh tenders in 2011.

Essar Power was the sole bidder with a favourable quote. A Patna High Court order of July 5 has cleared all legal hurdles for the privatisation process that is expected to begin soon.

The employees of the power board are, however, not happy with the development.

“After Patna, the board would appoint distribution franchisee for Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Purnea. So, where we will go when the new system will become operational everywhere in the state?” Amarendra Mishra, the general-secretary of Bihar Jharkhand Rajya Vidyut Parishad Field Kamgar Union, told The Telegraph.

He added: “We have decided to take out protest march from Vidyut Bhavan, the headquarters of BSEB, to the chief minister’s secretariat on July 18 to oppose the board’s move to privatise the power distribution work in Patna. ”

Bihar Jharkhand Rajya Vidyut Parishad Field Kamgar Union — the largest association of power employees in the state — has also convened a joint meeting of all associations and unions of power employees on July 16 to chalk out future strategy of their protest.