State Project Engineers Association has strongly resented the government’s move to re-employ or award extension to some of the retired Chief Engineers in the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL).
The Association has alleged that some Engineers who are on the verge of retirement are putting undue pressure for the grant of extension and are snatching the fellows engineers right of career progression.
“We strongly condemn such kind of pressure tactics which are against the R&P Rules, and the ethics and will eventually result in financial burden on the State Electricity Board, HPPCL and on the Government” said MK Sharma, General Secretary of the association.
“The extension and re-employment would adversely affect the working atmosphere, and will also demoralize the hard working, experienced and competent Project Engineers waiting for promotions, he said. The Project Engineers having more than 30 years of experience in Hydro sector are stagnated for many years and not getting promoted to higher ranks for which they are otherwise eligible” added Mr. Sharma.
The association revealed that majority power projects undertaken by the HPPCL are badly delayed and have caused financial burden on the State Exchequer. The execution of hydro projects like Sawra Kudu, Keshang, Sainj and Shong Tong are running much behind the schedule and with the continuation of same officers after their retirement would further delay these projects.
“The power engineers have also suggested that the government should allot some financially viable hydro projects to the State Electricity Board in the public sector. Majority of money spinning mega hydro projects in Himachal are allotted to private companies like Jai Prakash Industries and power corporations like SJVNL, NHPC and NTPC then why the energy and experience of the Himachal Engineers are not used for their own use and for benefitting the government” as quoted by members of the association.
Re-employing the retired bureaucrats and technocrats and giving them undue service extension has become a trend in the hill State in past few years. These blue-eyed officers are occupying choicest posts in the government, semi-government organizations and state run corporations.
The octogenarian Chief Minister has a battery of retired officials working around him on all key posts and that had forced the opposition to declare that “the incumbent government is being run by the retired and tired people in Himachal”.
