Senior power officials suspended for under performance, corrupt mal practices

THANE: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has suspended two officials of the level of deputy engineer on Saturday from Thane Circles on the basis of corrupt mal practices and under performance.
Acting tough on the employees, deputy executive engineers, AB Kharde of Vikas compound sub division and SH Mane of Gadkari Natyagrah sub division were suspended.
They have been suspended for allegedly providing illegal power connections to residents, for not taking action against power theft here and duping the board to the tune of lakhs of rupees, said a MSEB source.
The employees at the section offices allegedly collected money from some consumers and provided them illegal power connections, sources said. Following a report by an MSEB squad, which traced such connections, an inquiry was conducted after which MSEDCL suspended the duo.
They were suspended with immediate effect for letting go some consumers involved in mal and corrupt practices. Moreover, consumer complaints had mounted since a few months and they had failed to resolve their grievances. Some incidents of power theft were also reported in the sub divisions, sources confirmed.
Confirming the suspensions, MSEDCL senior officials said the management had confirmed the discrepancies in their style of functioning." An internal enquiry found that they were found guilty.
Meanwhile, deputy engineers and executive engineers were greatly agitated as they felt that the officials had been made a scapegoat. Subordinate Engineers' Association (SEA), their representative body, held talks with the management and demanded to revoke the suspension order.
SEA pointed out that Kharde and Mane should not be held guilty. The responsibility also lies with the concerned executive engineer (EE), junior engineers, superintendent engineer and divisional accountant (DA). Meanwhile, sources in Prakashgad said that the EEs and Suptd Engrs and some other officials posted at division and circle will come under the scanner in the inquiry.