325 power corp staff in for shock
PSPCL shifts them to PSTCL but latter fails to issue joining letters
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 28
The fate of 25 higher-ranking officials and about 300 other Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) employees hangs in the balance as the power utility recently transferred them to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

The PSTCL management, in an abrupt move on November 15, transferred all the 66-KV works to the PSPCL and two days later relieved these staff members from their duty. The PSPCL, however, is yet to issue them joining letters, a development that has these employees worried. The PSTCL too is not ready to retain them now.

Notably, the PSPCL and the PSTCL were created after the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board was bifurcated last April.

The latest decision by the PSTCL has led to the stoppage of all types of ongoing works at about 58 grids (66-KV) across the state.

Though both the power utilities had been at daggers drawn since their creation over one issue or the other, the new development has brought the divide in the open.

Post-bifurcation, the PSTCL was supposed to transfer the 66-KV grid stations to the PSPCL (related documents are available with The Tribune). But, said sources in the Power Department, the grids had to be transferred to the PSPCL in a phased manner and not abruptly, as had been done.

Meanwhile, a letter written by PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri on November 23 mentioned that both the power utilities had, at a meeting held in Chandigarh a day earlier, resolved that the PSTCL would complete all the ongoing 66-KV grid sub-station/transmission lines works, including the deposit works, wherein the cost had already been deposited by the consumers.

The letter reads, “The orders of the transfer of charge/manpower from the PSTCL to the PSPCL will be held in abeyance till the same is mutually consented between the two power utilities.” However, preferring anonymity, a senior PSPCL official confirmed that so far the PSTCL had not implemented the November 22 meeting resolve.

While the PSPCL authorities refused to comment on the matter, PSTCL Director (Technical) Ravinder Singh denied any such meeting (as referred in the PSPCL CMD’s letter) was held. “Today, we have sent a communiqué to the PSPCL management and clarified everything pertaining to the matter in detail,” he said.

Violation of scheme?

PSEB Engineers' Association president HS Bedi has questioned the move to transfer the posts. "The transfer of posts from one company to the other is a violation of the state Cabinet approved transfer scheme. The employees can be transferred but with the mutual consent of both the companies. Hence, all the posts that have been transferred should be retained by the PSTCL in order to maintain sanctity of the transfer scheme," he said.