Govt to appoint technocrat as CMD of PSPCL
IAS officer A Venu Prasad is now holding charge, besides working as principal secy, local govt
PATIALA: The Punjab government has decided to appoint a technocrat in place of IAS officer as full-time chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
The corporation assumes significance in the wake of provision of free power to the agricultural sector and the government’s recent decision to give subsided power to industry.
The posts of director (generation), director (finance) and director (technical) in the corporation will also be filled with engineers, to end adhocism in power sector.
A decision in this regard was taken by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who did not agree to the selection for single post of director (generation) in PSPCL, and asked the chief secretary to fill all vacant posts, including CMD, in one go to bring more efficiency in the corporation, before the crucial paddy season.
Former power minister Rana Gurjit Singh had forwarded two names for post of director (generation), before relinquishing the charge of the ministry.
At present, adhocism is ruling the power sector in Punjab. Senior IAS officer A Venu Prasad is holding the charge of CMD of PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), besides working as principal secretary, local government. Thus, he could not devote much time to ensure smooth functioning of PSPCL.
He had replaced KD Chaudhry, a technocrat, as PSPCL MD on March 30, as the latter tendered his resignation after the new government assumed office in the state.
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR CMD, OTHER POSTS
On the directions of the CM, who now holds the charge of power ministry, the power department has invited applications for the posts of PSPCL CMD, director (finance) and director (generation). Applications have also been sought for the post of the director (technical) of PSTCL.
An official of the chief minister’s office (CMO) said, “CM desires that technocrats should lead the department, and there should be no adhocism. Thus, we have invited applications. All posts will be filled before April, so that the new appointees get ample time to make arrangement for power required for paddy season, when electricity demand peaks.”
Sources said the government has given preference to technocrat over IAS officer for the post of CMD, in deference to the demand of power engineers.
For the post of CMD, a person should have served for a minimum period of 25 years in a central or state public utility or central electricity authority, and have an experience in the field electricity generation or distribution for a period not less than ten years.
He should have worked as chief engineer or engineer-in-chief, as the case may be, in a power utility company or its equivalent, for a minimum period of two years, during the aforesaid period of 25 years.
Meanwhile, the power department has given extension to SC Arora, director (finance), PSPCL, and Shashi Prabha, director (technical) for six months or till appointment of new incumbent, whichever is earlier.