Won't cooperate with PSEB boss: Engineers

PATIALA:

Engineers of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) on Sunday announced not to cooperate with Board chair- man H.S. Brar, condemning his "vindictive attitude" and inept handling of affairs.

At a meeting here, the engi- neers announced that they had lost confidence in the chairman as decisions taken during his tenure smacked of "bias, prej- udice and nepotism".

"Due to the partisan work- ing, he has lost our confidence," said PSEB Engineers' Association president H.S. Bedi.
Calling Brar unprofessional and anti-engineer, he also alleged that disciplinary actions were initiated against engineers on flimsy grounds but power thieves were not touched.

The engineers also decided not to address Brar as an engi- neer in any correspondence from the Association.

It was alleged that functioning of the Board had become chaot- ic in the absence of "credible leadership" and command to carry all the members along.
"Over 400 engineers have been deprived of revised scales, pro- motions are being denied, the promotion committee meeting has not been held and most sen- ior officers suffering from seri- ous ailments are moving from pillar to post to get their med- ical bills cleared, but no one lis- tens," said Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh.

Giving examples of retired Technical Member Kirpal Singh Gill and retired superintend- ing engineer C.L. Garg, the Association said there were many like them who were bat- tling for life but had failed to get a response for clearance of medical bills.

Field offices were without proper staff and it was not a priority with the chairman's office, it was alleged.

The Association delegated powers to a core committee to take appropriate decisions.
It was decided to hold zonal protest meetings in 15 days to expose the "misdeeds of the management".