Integrity Short-Circuited: Roadblock in thousands Crore Power Purchase agreements cost honest PSPCL Director his job
Kanwar Inder singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ November 4,2025
In the history of erstwhile PSEB/ PSPCL the services of a director has been terminated for misappropriation of funds or before the expiry of full term.
Today, the newly appointed administrative secretary, Power Basant Garg, IAS has issued the termination orders of services of Er Harjit Singh, director generation, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).Garg is also the officiating CMD of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Harjit Singh was appointed Director Generation on October 10,2024.
The official orders, state that the cost of power generation at the government’s Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Power Plant in Ropar and Guru Amardas Power Plant in Goindwal Sahib was significantly higher compared to private thermal plants, despite the utility sourcing coal from its own mine in Jharkhand. This discrepancy has reportedly caused losses of crores of rupees to the PSPCL and indicates large-scale misappropriation or a “scam” in fuel management.
“Harjit Singh is a well known power engineer of the region with expertise in power generation. He is known for his integrity and honesty in the power sector. This treatment is never expected for him ” said a powercom senior engineer
As per available information, he is the man who revived the government owned oldest thermal plant GGSSTP, Ropar and the newly acquired GVK Thermal Plant, Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran. He is one of the key members of the powercom who helped in reviving the powercoms Pachwara Coal Mines. This summer he played an instrumental role in giving 24 power supply to the residents of Punjab and easily met the highest ever 17000 plus MW power demand.
On the condition of anonymity, senior functionary of the powercom said, “ It is alleged that Harjit Singh seems to a roadblock in power purchase agreements. Punjab purchases around Rs 30,000 crore power yearly from the market. Earlier the CMD Ajoy Sinha was transferred for not adhering to the minister’s line and now Harjit Singh, director generation, paving way for some fishy deals in power purchase. Moreover how can the management compare government owned plant with private thermal plant. Govt plant is around four decade old with old technology where as the private plant is around a decade old with new technology. ”
“It was alleged that the former CMD of PSPCL-PSTCL Ajoy Sinha, IAS was transferred as the power minister was asking him to discuss power purchase with him before signing any agreement, discuss agendas, transfer officers etc with him. Sinha refused to budge and he is transferred. Today, a power purchase discussion was held in the office of power minister and PSPCL director finance attended that meeting” said another officer on the condition of not disclosing the identity.
He has vast experience in the Generation and Distribution sector. During his 35 year unblemished service and excellent record, he has worked in various capacities including OSD to CMD, PSPCL. He remained Chief Engineer/Information Technology . During his current tenure, IPDS project was completed within the time frame allowed by PFC, through which online computer service was extended to the whole of urban Punjab. As Chief Engineer Hydel, he looked after Construction works of 206 MW Shahpur Kandi Project, in addition to Design, Renovation & Modernisation and Operation & Maintenance works of all Hydel Projects of PSPCL including Civil works of these projects
Earlier the chief engineer of GGSSTP Harish Kumar was also suspended for causing loss to PSPCL.
