Over 1,000 power sector engineers condemn political interference, arbitrary actions

In a massive display of strength and resentment, more than 1,000 power sector engineers from Chief Engineers to Assistant Engineers from PSPCL, PSTCL and BBMB, along with retired senior officers and representatives of various employee and officer unions, gathered in Patiala today for a state-level protest meeting.

The meeting was called by the PSEB Engineers’ Association to address “grave threats to the stability and autonomy of the state power sector”, specifically condemning the recent arbitrary actions and growing political interference.

The assembled engineers unanimously and strongly condemned the actions of Power Minister Sanjeev Arora, stating that recent decisions have undermined technical integrity, professional dignity and institutional processes. The condemnation specifically cited the “move to sell power sector properties and assets, hurdles being created in the process of 2x800 MW units at Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant Ropar, the illegitimate suspension of chief engineer Harish Sharma allegedly without following due process. The illegal removal of services of Harjit Singh, Director/Generation, on what the engineers assert are unsubstantiated and fabricated technical grounds”.  

The engineers discussed the overall trend of unwarranted political interference in technical, administrative and procurement decisions within the Power Corporation. Engineers expressed serious concern that these arbitrary actions have seriously disrupted the functioning of the power sector, undermined the Chief Minister’s directive of “Zero Power Outage,” and posed a serious threat to the long-term reliability of power supply for the citizens of Punjab.

All speakers expressed strong solidarity with the engineers and unanimously resolved to stand together to safeguard Punjab’s power sector. They firmly opposed any move to sell or compromise public assets and rejected every attempt to create a culture of fear or allow political interference in the functioning of the power sector.