Power board employees protest pay anomalies

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 23

The HP State Electricity Board Employees Union today staged a protest against the delay in removing pay anomalies of the regular and contract employees.

Addressing the gathering, Kuldip Singh Kharwara, president of the union, said they were not satisfied with the functioning of the Service Committee comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), Additional Chief Secretary (MPP&Power)-cum-Chairman and Managing Director of HPSEBL.

The union claimed that the pay scales of 48 categories of HPSEBL employees drawing salaries since 1978 were downgraded vide office order No.10/HPSEBL(Sectt)/2013 issued on September 30, 2013 without going through the facts of the case.

He alleged that despite CM’s intervention, the Service Committee was not resolving the issue.

Hira Lal Verma, General Secretary, alleged that the Service Committee had affected the HPSBL’s autonomy provided under the Electricity Act, 2003. The Finance Department had imposed various riders like 2-year service for being entitled to enhanced grade pay.

The union members threatened to intensify their agitation in case the state government failed to address the problem.