Unions oppose state govt’s move to sell, lease powercom assets

Unions and associations representing the power sector of Punjab are up in arms and have decided to oppose Punjab government’s proposed move to sell or lease valuable lands and assets of the power sector and have threatened an agitation if the government tries to sell prime power sector land.

“In case the Punjab government moves in this direction, they will immediately launch protests. It was decided that all employees and engineers and officers will oppose this move to sell properties in the name of monetisation where our power houses, offices, stores are situated and some vacant lands that would otherwise be used for the department’s future growth for providing electricity services to the public. These actions of the Punjab Government could endanger the very existence of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL)”, claimed Ajay Pal Singh Atwal and Jatinder Garg, representing the PSEB Engineers’ Association.

A protest demonstration was also held in front of the main gate of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Head Office and a memorandum was handed over to the PSPCL management by leaders of all the associations and unions. “It may be mentioned that in Patiala properties of the PSPCL, spread over 55 acres near 23 Number Phatak, and flats constructed for the PSPCL employees, among others. At Ludhiana 40 properties of the PSPCL, located on the GT road, and in Power Colony at Sarabha Nagar”, claimed union leaders.

Atwal further said the state government should immediately stop the process of making the list of the Powercom properties for possible sale, but “instead the PSPCL properties should be used only for the expansion of our own future projects”.

The meeting was attended by Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, General secretary , Jatinder Garg, Devinder Goyal, representing PSEB Engineers’ Association, Amandeep Jehlvi, Chanchal Kumar, Vikas Gupta from Council of Junior Engineer, Kuldeep Singh Udhoke, S. Harpreet Singh, Gurpreet Singh Jassal from Technical Services Union, Avtar Kainth Bijli Mulazim Shangarhsheel Morcha, Gurvinder Singh SCBCEWF, Amitt Kumar, Ashish Singh from PSEB Accounts Audit & Administrative Services Association, Tejinder Singh PSPCL/ PSTCL IT Officers Association, Reetinder Galwatti HR Officers Association.