Delay in arrest: PSEB Engineers’ Association, staff, employees union plans agitation over manhandling of chief engineer
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 6,2024
On January 5,2024, a delegation of PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA), Ropar zone met the deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police, Ropar and lodged their resentment for not making efforts to arrest the culprits who attacked the chief engineer and other officers/ officials of GGSSTP (Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant).
The PSEB Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA) , staff, employees unions has announced to go on agitation, to ho;d gate rallies if culprits who attacked Pardeep Kumar Sharma, chief engineer of GGSSTP (Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant) are not arrested by the police.
Earlier, the delegation of PSEBEA gave a representation to SSP Ropar and cited about the serious incident happened on January 1,2024 at Microhydel site GGSSTP (Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant) where Chief Engineer and other officers/officials were attacked by local villagers without ascertaining the facts of the situation. This behavior of manhandling with Public authorities is unlawful, criminal and is not acceptable.
PSEBEA regional secretary , Parminder Singh said “a breach in canal of Microhydel was reported by villagers and staff of Micro hydel, immediately went to that location for proper assessment of the so called breach so that necessary action could be initiated. Chief engineer and other officers of GGSSTP issued instructions and precautions necessary during such faults and immediately rushed to the spot for assessing extent of the reported breach in canal. But villagers in a rageful manner obstructed their movement and attacked the officers including Chief Engineer/GGSSTP. Even the staff at Microhydel was chased by villagers. “
He added that “the mob climbed on the bypass gates of the microhydel plant which might have made the reported breach more dangerous. This could have caused damage to canal and Microhydel equipments and to the nearby crops and houses. It is submitted that there was no breach at all rather an overflow of canal which is a controllable abnormality. Without ascertaining the reality and reacting in a violent manner is criminal”.
He further informed that “earlier also during April,2023 villagers in this area tried to manhandle CE posted in GGSSTP at that time and other officers/staff of GGSSTP when they were inspecting the site of a breach in canal. Thankfully district administration and police were present nearby and the unfortunate situation was averted. “
“Operation and maintenance activities are going on round the clock in GGSSTP. Some locations of the plant are very remote. This incident has demoralised the officers and officials of plant and created an atmosphere of fear in GGSSTP. If no action is taken against such culprits, not only this will encourage them but the hardworking officials / officers of GGSSTP will be forced to seek protection against physical attack and normal activities in the power plant will be affected. This may lead to undesirable situations of loss of productivity and even complete plant shutdown” said the spokesperson.
Spokesperson requested the SSP that “during this incident of manhandling of officers, police officer/officials were also present and they can identify the villagers involved who should be immediately arrested. FIR should also include names of the villagers who attacked the officers. PSEB Engineers’ Association demands immediate strict action against the culprits who have entered illegally into the premises of GGSSTP and caused huge damage to Ropar Thermal plant and manhandled officers and other staff of GGSSTP otherwise agitation will be initiated and the responsibility of any loss to power generation on this account shall be with public /police administration.”
Delay in arrest: PSEB Engineers’ Association, staff, employees union plans agitation over manhandling of chief engineer. As per available information, a FIR has been registered by the police against some unknown assailants but no arrest has been made . The association is demanding the administration, police to book the culprits and antisocial elements because they can damage and sabotage the GGSSTP property and manhandle GGSSTP staff in future also.
