In a significant development, engineers of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have announced a major agitation scheduled for December 2, expressing strong resentment against the corporation's management over several critical issues affecting the power sector.
Unprecedented Protest Meeting
The decision was made during a state-level protest meeting held in Patiala on Saturday, marking the first time such a large-scale meeting has been organized by the association. Over 1,000 engineers, including retired life members and dignitaries from across Punjab, are expected to participate in the December 2 agitation.
Association general secretary Ajay Pal Singh Atwal stated that engineers will express strong resentment against multiple issues that have been brewing within the power sector. The primary concerns include recent arbitrary actions by management, the controversial sale of power sector properties, increasing political interference, and the erosion of technical autonomy within the organization.
Key Demands of Power Engineers
The engineers have put forth several critical demands that they want addressed immediately. These include:
- Immediate halt to the sale of PSPCL and PSTCL assets and properties
- Resumption of the process for setting up state sector 2 × 800 MW supercritical units at Ropar
- Unconditional revocation of the suspension of Ropar thermal plant chief engineer
- Reversal of the abrupt removal of director (generation), PSPCL
- Stopping political interference in technical decisions
- Restriction of private consultants' involvement in technical and administrative decisions
The association has particularly emphasized that the suspension of the Ropar thermal plant chief engineer and removal of the director (generation) were based on unsubstantiated and fabricated technical data.
Failed Communications Lead to Agitation
According to Atwal, the association has repeatedly conveyed their concerns through multiple meetings and formal letters to various authorities, including the Chief Minister, Power Minister, PSPCL Chairman and Managing Director, and Punjab Secretary (Power). However, no corrective action has been taken to address these pressing issues, leaving the engineers with no option but to resort to agitation.
The inaction regarding the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025 has also been cited as a major concern, adding to the growing frustration among technical professionals within the power corporation.
This planned agitation represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between PSPCL engineers and the management, potentially affecting power sector operations in Punjab if their demands remain unaddressed.
