Multi-crore purchase scam: PSPCL report indicts ex-chief engineer, other officials

PATIALA:An inquiry into the multi-crore purchase scam in the centrally sponsored schemes of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd has indicted a former chief engineer and other senior officials, hinting that it might just be the tip of the iceberg and the probe may lead to the top brass of the corporation, including a director.

An HT report on the fraud in the centrally sponsored integrated power development scheme (IPDS) and Deen Dyal Upadya Gram Jyoti Yojna (DDUGJY) executed by the chief engineer (accelerated power development and reforms programme) under the PSPCL’s distribution wing had forced the corporation to expeditiously complete the inquiry.

A probe was ordered into the alleged overpayment for electricity meters between 2013 and 2017, causing a loss of ₹16 crore to the corporation.

Additional chief secretary (power) Satish Chandra had asked the PSPCL technical audit wing to submit a report in 15 days. The Centre’s Power Finance Corporation central vigilance officer has sought a report from the state.

As per reports, the technical audit wing completed a stage of inquiry in which allegations highlighted by HT have been found to be true.

Additional superintending engineer Inderjit Singh and accounts officer Jagjivan Singh in PSPCL’s accelerated power development and reforms programme (APDRP) office have been placed under suspension.

It has been decided to take action against retired chief engineer Balbir Singh Sidhu, under whose supervision the scam took place, and retired superintending engineer Anil Soni.

Initially, a three-member committee of engineers sympathetic to those facing inquiry was constituted to hush up the matter, it was claimed.

The additional chief secretary (power) then entrusted the inquiry to the tech audit wing, disbanding the three-member committee.

The complainant had said PSPCL’s whole-time directors had approved the purchase of 131 meters at ₹800 each for installing on transformers and 2.54 lakh meters at ₹ 468 each for consumers.

But the office of chief engineer (APDRP) Balbir Singh later changed these rates and allowed ₹800 each for the 2.54 lakh consumer meters, leading to an extra payment of ₹12 crore under the Gram Jyoti Yojana (rural electrification scheme), it was alleged.

Also, an excess payment of ₹4 crore was made under another scheme for such meters.

Earlier, it was also highlighted in the press that more than ₹450 crore was splurged by paying higher rates under a scheme for improving the power distribution system in Punjab.

Balbir did not respond to repeated calls and text messages.