HPSEBL union seeks action against tainted officials

Our Correspondent

NURPUR, APRIL 14

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) Employees Union, welcoming the appointment of JM Pathania as new Director, Finance, in the electricity board, has demanded action against the corrupt board officials, who had made substandard purchases to the tune of crores of rupees a few years ago.

Kuldeep Kharwara, state president of the union, in a press statement here today, said Pathania, who had earlier appointed on the same post in November 20 for a brief period of seven months, had started the process of cracking down on such officials but after his transfer in June last year, the process had been stopped.

Kharwara said Pathania had inspected the centre store of the HPSEBL’s Hamirpur circle in March last year and prepared an inspection report of the rotting power cables, substandard gang operated switches and other implements worth crores of rupees purchased without demand.

“The report had suddenly gone missing after his transfer and no follow-up action could be taken by the HPSEBL,” he said. Pathania, during his short tenure, had even issued show-cause notices to the officials concerned, questioning the tender process undertaken for purchasing the electricity machinery and implements.

He appealed to Pathania to take action on that report and tighten the noose around the corrupt elements. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged scam. —