Power utility abolishes 6 senior-level posts
Engineers threaten stir if the decision is not reversed
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, September 25
The Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) has abolished the posts of Chief Engineer (Sub-Station), Chief Engineer (Transmission), Superintending Engineer (Technical) attached to member transmission, Deputy Chief Engineer working as OSD to PSTCL CMD, Superintending Engineer (Planning) and Superintending Engineer (Civil).

Sources say the matter seems to have some connection with the tussle between Punjab’s two power utilities, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the PSTCL.

Recently, the PSTCL had demanded that operation of all 568 66-KV grid substations, which make up the largest chunk of the system, should be transferred to it. At the time of division of work after the unbundling of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) on April 16 this year, 66 and 33-KV substations were transferred to the PSPCL.

PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri and PSTCL CMD Anurag Agarwal could not be contacted for comments on the issue despite repeated attempts.

Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers’ Association has condemned the decision of abolishing the posts and announced in case the PSTCL management failed to withdraw the decision, the engineers would launch an agitation.

“The distribution of functions between the PSPCL and the PSTCL, along with officers and staff, was made as per the decision of the Cabinet at the time of unbundling of the PSEB and duly notified by the state government through a transfer scheme. It is beyond the powers of even the board of directors of these power utilities to make any changes in the decisions of the Cabinet,” claimed association president HS Bedi.

Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should intervene in the matter and issue instructions for the withdrawal of the orders abolishing posts of six senior engineers of the PSTCL.