Engineers' lobby challenges Punjab government on power sector issues

In a major confrontation, the power engineers' lobby has decided to oppose the Punjab government’s recent decisions and is holding a state-level meeting to chalk out further strategy.

The PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA) has announced a State Level Protest Meeting to be held on December 2, 2024 to “express their resentment against the management” and noted its actions exerting undue pressure on engineers to make the officers either fall in line or face extreme actions.

In this regard, Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary PSEBEA, said, “Power engineers across Punjab will be in Patiala to express their strong resentment against the recent arbitrary actions, sale of power sector properties, growing interference in the Punjab power sector, inaction regarding Electricity Amendment Bill 2024, and the ongoing attempts to undermine the technical autonomy and institutional integrity of the power sector.”

Power engineers said that the meeting will be attended by over 1,000 power engineers and dignitaries from all over Punjab and many important decisions would be discussed.

PSEBEA members stated that the protest meeting is being held demanding the immediate halt of the sale of PSPCL/PSTCL assets and properties, the resumption of the process for setting up the state sector 2 × 800 MW supercritical units at Ropar, the unconditional revocation of the suspension of the chief engineer Ropar thermal, and the restriction of unwarranted political interference and the involvement of private consultants in technical and administrative decisions of the power sector.