Chandigarh, December 25
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister for his intervention to stop arbitrary actions and adhocism in the Power sector, to restore industrial peace, uphold technical leadership, reverse unjust actions and safeguard the long‐term stability of Punjab’s power sector.
Shailender Dubey, Chairman AIPEF in letter to Chief Minister Punjab expressed serious concern over recent developments that are adversely impacting the technical integrity and institutional stability of Punjab’s power sector. Already engineers and employees of the power sector are agitating against the arbitrary actions of the Power Minister.
“AIPEF strongly condemns the arbitrarily transferred the key office bearers of PSEB Engineers’ Association as a malafide and vindictive move of PSPCL management. AIPEF requests you to withdraw these arbitrary orders”, said Dubey.
Dubey further said that the arbitrary suspension and removal of senior level Engineer officers and Director/Generation on baseless and technically incorrect grounds undermine due process, damage morale and create an atmosphere of pressure and insecurity among engineers.
Dubey said that AIPEF strongly opposes the move to sell power sector assets of PSPCL and PSTCL necessary for future expansions or augmentations to the transmission or distribution projects. “Sale of assets of the corporations will also affect the borrowing capacity of the corporations and is also a violation of provisions of Electricity Act 2003”, he added.
“Moreover rising political interference and Influence of Non‐Technical consultants Increasing unwanted political interference in technical operations, procurement, and Board decisions are eroding institutional professionalism”, Dubey pointed out.
AIPEF office bearers pointed out that at the time of unbundling of PSEB detailed qualifications, eligibility criteria and a selection procedure for the appointment of CMDs and directors of the two corporations were laid down, clearly envisaging that both entities would be headed by experienced power sector technocrats. “Now, the Government has appointed an IAS officer of Secretary level to the post of CMD and later on made illegitimate amendments ignoring the inputs of state sector Engineers’ body regarding dilution of qualification/experience criteria of this post. AIPEF urges expeditious appointment of a full‐time technocrat CMD through the regular selection process”, demanded AIPEF.
Dubey said that the establishment of a 2 × 800 MW Ropar supercritical project is for enhancement of the state generation capacity to ensure future energy security. “However, as per the latest stance, the establishment of these units is now being envisaged to be in the private sector instead of the state sector meaning costlier generation but also higher tariffs for state consumers”, he added.
Finally, AIPEF urged the state government to oppose the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 as the same dilutes the state governments’ stake in the decision making in the Power sector which otherwise is a concurrent list subject.
