Brar takes over PSEB reins
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 13
Technocrat and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal loyalist HS Brar, who was till now serving as member, Distribution, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), today took over as its chairman.

Brar takes over from YS Ratra, who has served the board for nearly six years.

The new chairman is known for his proximity to the Chief Minister. He is also credited with bringing in efficiency methods, including adopting re-engineering to re-use spare material in the distribution system, making substantial savings.

During his tenure as member, Distribution, Brar brought down transmission and distribution losses by 1.5 to two per cent. He is also credited with introducing the use of CFL technology on a large scale.

Brar has come up through the ranks. He did his initial schooling in a village and won a scholarship. Later he did his degree in mechanical engineering from Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana, and M.Sc Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, and rose to the position of engineer-in-chief. He was elevated to the rank member, Distribution, in April 2008.

Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers Association welcomed Brar’s appointment as chairman. Its president HS Bedi said the government had fulfilled a long pending demand of the association to appoint a technocrat as well as professional to run the board.