Punjab State Electricity Board engineers seek quick appointment of CMD, Directors

The PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) Engineers Association has demanded that the process of appointment of the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Directors in PSPCL/PSTCL and Member (Technical) in Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) be expedited.

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Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary of the association, said they had written a letter to the Chief Minister on Wednesday. It stated that keeping in view the immense challenges to the state power sector and urgent preparations for the paddy season, the process for appointment of CMD and Directors be finalised immediately. The timely appointment of CMD for PSPCL and Directors for PSPCL/ PSTCL would not only demonstrate the commitment to efficient and reliable power supply for the citizens of Punjab but also provide the expertise needed to steer the power sector through the upcoming and demanding summer season.

It may be mentioned that the Punjab Government had invited applications for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD); Director, Distribution; Director, Commercial; Director, HR, of the PSPCL and Director, Technical (PSTCL), in September last year. The charge of the CMD, PSPCL, was given to the Secretary (Power) on February 6 as a stop-gap arrangement. The terms of Director (Distribution) and Director (Commercial) are also expiring on February 28.

As per the available data and projected electricity demand, the upcoming summer season will exert significant pressure on the power infrastructure, including generation, transmission and distribution. The rising energy consumption, driven by increased agricultural and domestic demand, will challenge the capacity of the power sector to ensure uninterrupted supply.

The association’s concern about the highly technical position of the CMD at the PSTCL has been vacant for the last 14 years and the important role of Chief Electrical Inspector remains unfilled.

Further, the appointment of the Member/Technical, PSERC, be finalised on an urgent basis to uphold regulatory oversight as it is pending for more than two years.