Wings of 2 PSEB members clipped
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 18
In a significant development that may snowball into a major controversy, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) chairman HS Brar has issued a “contentious” order, curtailing powers of two senior IAS functionaries - PSEB member, Finance and Accounts (F&A), Anurag Aggarwal, and Secretary Hussain Lal.

Though Brar could not be contacted, senior PSEB functionaries confirmed that orders to this effect had been issued by the board chairman.

The orders read that: “Since the PSEB member, F&A, and the Secretary are also handling the responsibility of other government departments in Chandigarh, important and date-bound matters may directly be sent to his office for an approval.”

However, Aggarwal refused to comment on the issue saying, “It is an internal matter between the government and the board and I would not like to comment on it.” PSEB Secretary Hussain Lal said: “No comments.”

According to information, all proposals and matters pertaining to the finance goes to the board chairman through the member, F&A. Likewise, the PSEB Secretary, who works as a representative of the state government in the board, has also got many independent powers.

However, some of the IAS officers termed the orders as a “blatant violation” of government directions.

“The PSEB chairman can’t curtail powers of a whole-time member of the board appointed by the state government for the tenure of five years”, argued a senior board official.