PSPCL revokes suspension of chief engineer, ends engineers’ agitation

Patiala: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has revoked the suspension of chief engineer Harish Kumar Sharma after its board of directors unanimously took the decision in its 122nd meeting in Chandigarh, with the order notified on Monday.Sharma was placed under suspension on Nov 1 last year, a day after the then newly appointed CMD Basant Garg assumed charge. According to the order, the board examined a detailed report submitted by a high-level committee comprising the director (distribution), director (finance) and the chief financial officer. After evaluating the findings, along with Sharma's past service record and the fact that he is nearing retirement, the board decided to cancel the suspension with immediate effect.The suspension stemmed from allegations of irregularities in fuel management at Ropar (GGSSTP) and Goindwal Sahib (GATP) thermal plants. It was claimed that power generation costs at these state-run plants were Rs 0.75 to Rs 1.25 per unit higher than private thermal plants, despite coal being sourced from PSPCL's Pachhwara mine.The PSEB Engineers' Association refuted the allegations, terming the comparisons "technically flawed" and said juxtaposing over four-decade-old sub-critical units like Ropar with modern super-critical private plants was akin to "comparing a 1990s Maruti 800 with a 2025 Mercedes".Sharma challenged the suspension before the Punjab and Haryana high court, which directed that his departmental appeal be considered and ordered the CMD to recuse himself from the appellate process to ensure fairness.During its 121st meeting, the Board constituted a high-level committee to examine the matter in detail. The committee submitted its report in early March, which was deliberated upon in the 122nd meeting, leading to the unanimous decision to revoke the suspension.