Power engineers to go on strike from next week

The government's decision to sell land parcels owned by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has snowballed into a full-blown controversy, with the power engineers announcing a strike from next week.The engineers, under the umbrella of the PSEB Engineers' Association, will start a statewide protest from November 26, “demanding the immediate halt of sale of power sector assets and properties, resumption of the process of setting up the state sector 2X800 MW supercritical units at Ropar, unconditional revocation of the suspension of Chief Engineer (GGSSTP) Harish Sharma and issuance of a written communication to the Power Department condemning the illegal removal of services of Harjit Singh, Director, Generation”.Jasvir Dhiman, president of the association, said engineers had repeatedly conveyed their concerns through meetings with the Power Minister Sanjeev Arora and Secretary (Power) Basant Garg, as well as through multiple written communications. “However, no corrective action has been taken, compelling the engineers to resort to the path of agitation,” he said.

“The surprising fact is that even though PSPCL records show considerable improvements and reduction in cost in the performance of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP), Ropar, and Guru Angad Dev Thermal Plant, Goidwal Sahib, Harish Sharma was suspended merely on a note from the Power Minister,” said Dhiman.