Power union raises issue of staff shortage

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh February 25

The UT Powermen Union today raised the issue of shortage of staff and safety of employees before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) during a public hearing on ARR.

Gopal Dutt Joshi, general secretary of the union, said three decades ago there were 1,780 posts against 1.12 lakh connections. Now, the connections have increased to 2.25 lakh, beside 220 KV/66 KV/33KV/11 KV substations, and the staff strength has dropped to 900.

The union appealed the commission to advise the department to fill up 700 vacant posts on regular basis. He also raised the issue of offer of appointment to the next of kin of deceased employees who have lost their lives while working on duty as a special case on regular.

He said the department should be advised to replace insulated cables, removal of illegal connections, 100 per cent metering, recovery of pending amount and strengthening of enforcement cell.

Lastly, he appealed the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission to advise the department to recruit regular staff and provide material so as to serve the consumers in a better way and uninterrupted power supply be provided to the consumers.

Opposing the privatisation proposal, he said if staff and material be provided, the department would be able to serve better than other corporations and private companies.

Despite shortage of employees and equipment, uninterrupted power supply was being given to the consumers at cheaper rates in comparison to other boards and corporations, he added.