Shimla:The Joint Front of Electricity Employees and Engineers has been informed that the Government of Himachal Pradesh, along with the management of HPSEBL, is considering the abolition of several posts within the organization. This proposal particularly affects the works sections in field offices, raising significant concerns about operational efficiency and service delivery.
In response to this situation, the Joint Front has scheduled an urgent meeting for October 17, 2024, to discuss the matter in detail. The works sections were established in field offices to support officers-in-charge in conducting frequent site inspections and handling various field-related tasks, in addition to their routine administrative responsibilities. The Joint Front has also sent a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, emphasizing the critical role these offices play in maintaining effective operations.
The Joint Front is understandably surprised by the proposal to abolish posts in HPSEBL, especially given the current severe staff shortages. Rather than addressing this critical issue, the suggestion to further reduce the number of engineers at all levels will likely exacerbate the situation, leading to an artificial scarcity of personnel. This could have a detrimental impact on the functioning of HPSEBL and its ability to serve the community effectively.
Furthermore, making such changes without a thorough study could disrupt the fundamental structure of HPSEBL, which has reliably provided 24-hour electricity supply across Himachal since the late 1980s. Altering this structure without consulting the Joint Front would not only hinder the effective functioning of HPSEBL but also betray the bipartite agreement established between the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the Joint Front.
It is important to note that this proposed move by the Government contradicts its earlier decision to establish Chief Engineer and Superintending Engineer offices in Hamirpur and Dehra, respectively. Members of the Joint Front had previously communicated to the Hon’ble Chief Minister that these new offices would not provide any benefits to HPSEBL and could instead lead to administrative challenges in the day-to-day operations of the organization.
It is unclear how abolishing these posts will enhance the financial health of HPSEBL, as the employee costs are already integrated into the tariff structure for the year, given that HPSEBL is a regulated entity. In fact, this move is likely to result in increased unemployment in a state where job opportunities are already scarce. While it has been claimed on various platforms that HPSEBL has a high employee cost compared to other states, this is a misrepresentation of the facts. HPSEBL not only operates in challenging terrains that many states do not face but also consistently delivers uninterrupted power at a lower cost than most other states.
The Joint Front remains hopeful that reason will prevail and that HPSEBL will refrain from taking such action. However, if the proposal is implemented, the Joint Front will firmly oppose it and is prepared to take to the streets to protest against this unilateral decision.
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