11 months ago
PSPCL Suspends Chief Engineer Amidst Allegations of Political Interference and Fuel Cost Hike
Imagine a company that makes electricity.
The boss of this company just suspended a manager who was in charge of two big power-making places.
The reason given is that it cost too much money to run those places because the fuel was too expensive.
The company thinks this might be a secret bad deal.
People who work for the company are upset and think the suspension was unfair and maybe because of politics.
They also say the manager did a good job before, even with fewer workers.
They want someone who knows about electricity, not just government rules, to be in charge of the company.
Chief Engineer Harish Sharma suspended over allegations of unusually high fuel costs at Ropar and Goindwal thermal plants.
The suspension was ordered by PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Basant Garg, who recently took charge as power secretary.
The suspension order cites fuel costs Rs 0.75 to Rs 1.25 per unit higher than private plants, despite coal from a state-owned mine.
The PSEB Engineers’ Association expressed shock, calling the move arbitrary and alleging political interference.
Employees and retired engineers defended Sharma, highlighting his past performance and calling for a technocrat, not a bureaucrat, to lead PSPCL.
- Who
- Harish Sharma, Chief Engineer of Ropar and Goindwal thermal plants, suspended by PSPCL CMD Basant Garg.
- What
- Suspension of a chief engineer over allegations of a significant hike in fuel costs at state-run thermal power plants.
- Where
- Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) plants in Ropar and Goindwal Sahib.
- When
- Late on November 1, a day after the new power secretary took charge.
- Why
- To facilitate an independent inquiry into alleged unusually high fuel costs, described as a potential scam, at the two thermal plants.
PSPCL Management
Employees and Engineers' Association
Reason for Suspension
PSPCL Management
Suspension is necessary to facilitate an independent inquiry into alleged unusually high fuel costs, hinting at a potential scam.
Employees and Engineers' Association
The suspension is arbitrary, possibly politically motivated, and bypasses proper procedure; the chief engineer had previously managed well despite challenges.
Leadership of PSPCL
PSPCL Management
Implicitly supports the current bureaucratic leadership structure by taking administrative action.
Employees and Engineers' Association
The current action reinforces the need for a technocrat (an expert in a field of technology or science) to be appointed as CMD, rather than a bureaucrat, for professional and independent management.
Previous Performance of Chief Engineer
PSPCL Management
Not explicitly mentioned, but the focus is on the current alleged financial irregularities.
Employees and Engineers' Association
Chief Engineer Harish Sharma successfully ran a 36-year-old plant with limited staff, saving the company Rs 35 crore, and was previously praised by a former minister.
Key facts
- Suspended Official
- Harish Sharma, Chief Engineer
- Reason for Suspension
- Alleged unusually high fuel costs at Ropar and Goindwal plants
- Date of Suspension Order
- Late November 1
- Issuing Authority
- Basant Garg, Power Secretary and CMD of PSPCL
- Plants Affected
- Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Power Plant (Ropar) and Guru Amardas Thermal Power Plant (Goindwal Sahib)
- Employee Association
- PSEB Engineers’ Association
Quotes
Suspension Order
The official order citing reasons for the suspension of Chief Engineer Harish Sharma.
“There seems to be a scam behind this hike in fuel cost”
indianexpress.com
Ajaypal Singh Atwal
General secretary of the PSEB Engineers’ Association.
“We will discuss the matter and announce our plan after the meeting”
indianexpress.com
A PSPCL employee
An anonymous employee of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.
“Former power minister Harbhajan Singh ETO had publicly praised the same chief engineer, and now the current minister has him suspended”
indianexpress.com
Gursewak Singh
Former president of the Bathinda Thermal Power Plant Employees Union.
“In the past eight years, not even eight employees have been recruited in the thermal plant, while hundreds have retired. Yet, the chief engineer managed to run the 36-year-old plant with limited staff and saved Rs 35 crore. This Government hasn’t set up a single new power project in four years, even as electricity demand has crossed 17,000 MW”
indianexpress.com