PSEB Engg Assn demands full-time technocrat as CMD of power utilities

The appointment of a bureaucrat again as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Power Transmission Corporation (PSTCL) has invited criticism of power engineers, who are opposing the appointment and state that a technocrat should be handed over this vital power sector posting.

PSEB Engineers Association (PSEBA) -- in a letter to the Chief Minister -- has urged him to appoint a full-time technocrat as CMD of PSPCL and PSTCL instead of the ad-hoc arrangements being made.

The letter mentions that the selection process to fill up the post of CMD, PSPCL, was started, but the Power Department has been unable to complete the selection process till date. Now, the charge of CMD PSPCL and CMD PSTCL has been given to the newly appointed Secretary Power.

The Punjab Government has set an ambitious and much-needed target of achieving “zero power outages” by March 2026. To achieve this goal, focused and technically competent leadership is needed. "Assigning the charge of CMD, PSPCL, to a Secretary-level officer is inconsistent with the qualifications prescribed under the prevailing Punjab Government notification. This ad-hoc arrangement will not only disrupt the informed decision-making process on these crucial technical positions but also creates a sense of uncertainty and instability in the power sector," say PSEBA members.

Two days back, the state government had removed IAS officer AK Sinha as CMD of PSPCL and PSTCL, and had appointed Dr Basant Garg as the new CMD.

The change in guard in the Power Department comes at a time when the state government is actively contemplating liquidation of the land owned by PSPCL in a bid to earn the much-needed revenue. All employees unions in the state power utilities have been opposing the move.

“The power sector constitutes a vital public service and any form of undue political interference in its technical operations, day-to-day functioning and procurement processes may seriously undermine its efficiency and long-term stability. Such actions would not only be contrary to the vision of “zero power outage” by March 2026, but would also ultimately impair the quality and reliability of power services being provided to the consumers,” said power engineers.