Post Covid economic revival strategy: Punjab Power Corporation abolishes 40k posts lying vacant

PATIALA: In order to ensure financial revival of the state power sector, which had been hit hard due to the lockdown forced by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Punjab government has given a go-ahead for abolition of 40,000 posts in Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) that have been lying vacant for the last one year. A similar exercise is also being undertaken in the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL).
The PSPCL had a sanctioned strength of 7,57,57 staffers and 4,04,83 posts are lying vacant. These include 761 group A posts, 2862 group B posts , 30702 group C posts and 6158 group D posts.
The staff strength of PSPCL and PSTCL was reviewed in a meeting chaired by the additional chief secretary on July 22 in which it was decided that the posts lying vacant for the last one year may be abolished in both the power utilities.
Besides, it has also been decided to reduce the number of employees in PESCO by at least 20%. In a letter issued on August 4, the state government has given a go ahead for a abolition of these posts.
The PSPCL has planned a number of meetings during the current month with heads of different departments to restructure the posts in the corporation.The PSPCL plans to complete the process within three months.
According to the sources, the move is also likely to impact the jobs of more than 1,200 security staff and 6,427 daily wages working in the State Power Corporation.
In a similar way, the PSTCL has also started the process of abolishing vacant posts.
In the first report of the group of experts constituted to recommend medium and long term post-covid economic revival strategy for the state, It has been stated that vacant posts in various departments and corporations should be abolished.
Chairman cum managing director of PSPCL, A Venu Prasad, said the restructuring was being done to bring down the expenditures of the power corporation. He said that the focus was on rationalizing various posts in the Power Corporation. The CMD said the staff from departments with additional strength will be e moved to to other departments where the strength is less.
Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers Association on Thursday met director commercial, director finance and director distribution regarding abolition of various posts .The associaton said that there is shortage of field staff. The technical staff is needed to improve the consumer services. There is an urgent need to create the new posts to tackle field difficulties as the sub-divisions are under staffed. The matter was also discussed with the CMD and he has assured to discuss the matter with the association.