Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has denounced the suspension of engineers by the J&K Power Development Department, stating that ‘the engineers were suspended without proper assessment of their replies to show cause notices.’
The JKEEGA believes that the suspensions are a setback to the morale of field engineers and has called for the revocation of the suspension orders within seven days, the association said in a statement to Ziraat Times.
The press release states that the government should focus on strengthening the power corporations by way of recruitment at lower levels instead of suspensions. The JKEEGA argues that existing engineers are already overloaded due to staff scarcity and that suspending them further burdens the department.
The JKEEGA also highlighted that ‘unrealistic targets and a lack of accountability’ of PSUs like RECPDCL, PGCIL and NTPC are reasons for slow progress in curbing losses. The Association emphasized that engineers should not be held responsible for unrealistic targets and that the trajectory of AT&C losses approved under RDSS (44% for 2023-24 & 34% for 2024-25) should be the benchmark for performance review.
The press release further states that the government has failed to establish a dedicated enforcement wing, which has already been approved by SAC. The JKEEGA argues that the existing engineers are burdened with enforcement duties without any administrative support.
The JKEEGA has threatened a one-day protest leave by all power engineers across J&K if the suspension orders are not revoked within seven days. The protest will be held on 30th March 2024 at PDD Complex Bemina/Gladini Jammu.
In addition to revoking the suspension orders, the JKEEGA has demanded accountability of PSUs like RECPDCL, PGCIL and NTPC for lagging on targets. The Association has also called for deployment of staff commensurate with the increase in assets over the last two decades and the establishment of a dedicated enforcement wing.
