Ropar Thermal Plant engineers hold protest meeting

Vinod Kumar Gupta
Friday, 23 July 2010
ROPAR: The PSEB Engineers’ Association Ropar thermal plant region held a protest meeting against the failure of the state government and Powercom management to fulfill the assurances given by Chief Minister, Punjab at the time of restructuring of PSEB.

Parmod Sharma regional secretary said that before restructuring the PSEB, Chief Minister had l assured the engineers that their services and pension benefits would be protected and a tripartite agreement would be signed.

He further said that even after nearly three months, the process has not begun. He said the HP Government, which started this process last month, had not only signed the bipartite agreement but got the transfer scheme notification approved too, assuring common seniority, no further unbundling of corporations and guarantee for salary/pension.

RK Saini executive member said the tripartite agreement was of paramount importance since financial status of the State and the board’s successor companies was bad. The board had utilized over Rs 1,800 crore from the Employees’ Provident Fund and the State had neither created a statutory fund/trust nor has extended any solemn guarantee for payment of retirement benefits or provident fund withdrawal. The engineers also demanded that Giddarbaha thermal project must be handed over to Powercom for execution under state sector.
A number of engineers also expressed resentment in the meeting over the dictatorial attitude of accounts wing at Ropar towards engineers. The irrelevant and frivolous objections are raised due to lack of control at senior level.