Staff shortage affects Himachal power board working

Ashok Raina

Kangra, March 5

Resentment prevails among consumers of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) here due to the alleged deterioration in its services. Consumers rue that the board’s complaint offices are closed after 5 pm. Emergency services, too, have been withdrawn for want of field staff.

In Kangra subdivision, there are nearly 20,000 consumers and there is a gradual annual increase of consumers. When technical staff members retire, there is no replacement, which increases the workload on employees manifold. This has forced the authorities concerned to withdraw emergency services and round-the-clock complaint service.

There are 8,000 consumers in Kangra town where the number of field employees was 25, which has now reduced to 10, including five regular employees, two outsourced and two junior T-Mates.The number of Junior Engineers too has come down. In some segments, some Junior Engineers bear the burden of two sections. One Junior Engineer is looking after Kotkowala with the additional charge of Tiara. In Icchhi, the field staff has reduced to two from seven and in Tiara, it has come down to three from seven.

JP Kalta, Managing Director, HPSEB, said the board would fill 2,000 vacant posts of different categories of linemen and other field staff shortly.