Power engineers oppose jobs on contract -Executive body for April 20 to finalise the agitation programme.

Submitted by lovekesh on Tue, 19/04/2011 - 6:23am

Power engineers oppose jobs on contract
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 18
Even after bifurcating the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) into Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), in April last year, the problems of the state government are far from over.

The recent announcement made by the state government to recruit fresh assistant engineers on contract basis for three years in the two power utilities of Punjab has triggered a fresh controversy.

The PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA) has accused the state government of trying to adjust select individuals as engineers in the PSPCL/PSTCL. They allege that the move was made in wake of political compulsions, ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, scheduled for early next year.

While stating that said decision was against the Indian Electricity Rules and Central Electricity Authority guidelines, framed for operation and maintenance of power system, President PSEBEA HS Bedi has urged Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to review the decision.

While confirming this, Bedi said, “We have concrete information that 350 engineers are likely to be recruited on contract basis in PSPCL/PSTCL, which is totally uncalled for. Our association has decided to launch an agitation against this decision.” It is learnt that PSEBEA has called an emergency meeting of its executive body for April 20 to finalise the agitation programme.

Expressing his views on the matter, General Secretary of the association Bhupinder Singh said the power sector was in need of highly trained and competent engineering cadre. “Fresh engineers require grooming to take up the challenging tasks of manning the power industry. Induction-level training is a must to orient their knowledge, as per power sector requirements. It is beyond our understanding how the engineers, recruited on contract basis, will be imparted an extensive training, by the two power utilities, as the engineers will not be bound to serve the companies, after the expiry of the contract period,” he said.

Several other representatives of the association and the technocrats working in the two power utilities said, “The decision reflects that the Punjab Government is not to keen to address the political compulsion, ahead of 2012 Punjab Assembly elections.”