51 engineering posts in power board abolished, staff in shock

The state government today abolished 51 posts of Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer in Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL). The abolished posts include seven of Superintending Engineer (Works), six of Senior Executive Engineer (Commercial and Works) and 38 of Assistant Engineer (Works) from all four zones of the electricity board.

As per the orders issued by the HPSEBL management, the decision was taken to rationalise the posts of various categories in the power board.

Meanwhile, the Joint Front of HPSEBL Employees and Engineers, which was already suspecting that several posts would be abolished, was stunned by the government decision and reacted strongly. The front held a meeting and decided to oppose the orders as “it would severely affect the functioning of the board”.

To express their dismay over the government decision, the employees and engineers decided to exit all official Whatsapp groups created for internal communication and customer services, to switch off their mobile phones after duty hours and stop the survey of domestic consumers and hotels through the mobile app (e-kYC). Furthermore, the front threatened that its members would proceed on mass casual leave if the orders were not withdrawn within next 10 days (by October 28).

The front alleged that such a big decision was taken without consulting the engineers and other employees.

“The order has left the joint front members in a state of shock. Attempts were made to meet the authorities concerned and apprise them of the importance of these posts but none paid heed to our pleadings,” the front claimed.

The office-bearers of the front claimed that the government was looking to abolish many more posts of different categories in the near future.

“Such decisions are neither in the interest of the electricity board nor the public. The abolition of these posts will severely hamper the functioning of the board,” they said.

‘Decision not in interest of board, public’

• The Joint Front of HPSEBL Employees and Engineers alleged that such a big decision was taken without consulting the engineers and other employees.
• Members said such decisions were neither in the interest of the electricity board nor the public.
• The abolition of these posts is likely to severely hamper the functioning of the board.