Recruits will mandatorily serve in designated posts for 10 years, says Energy Minister

Energy Minister K.J. George has said that to address the problem of shortage of staff due to transfers taken using political influence, the department has introduced a new policy under which it will be mandatory for recruits to serve in the place of their first posting for at least 10 years.

Speaking to presspersons after chairing a review meeting with HESCOM (Hubballi Electricity Supply Company) officials in Dharwad on Tuesday, Mr. George said that there is a severe shortage of linemen which is hampering pole shifting, transformer repairs and laying of new lines and other works.

“We have seen that many newly appointed linemen and engineers try to get postings to their home districts using political influence within six months of their appointment. This will invariably lead to shortage of staff in MESCOM affecting the coastal areas. So, we have introduced a new policy to make it mandatory for them to serve in the designated post for at least 10 years,” he said.

Counselling

“The State government has completed the recruitment process for filling posts of 3,000 linemen, 1,500 assistant and junior engineers and has taken up counselling for postings which will be completed within the next month,” he said.

To a query on denying power supply connections to households without valid building plan sanctions (Akrama-Sakrama houses), the Minister clarified that it is in accordance with a Supreme Court judgement which has prohibited providing water and electricity to such constructions.

The Minister said that at present over 4.5 lakh applications for power supply connection are pending and the State government is exploring legal options to provide relief to such residents. The issue will be placed before the Cabinet within a month, he said.

On the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project, Mr. George said that at present a plant is generating 1,000 MW of power and with pumped storage, it will be increased to 2,500 MW.

It is necessary to meet the future demand and reduce reliance on power purchases from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, he said and added that a similar project is being contemplated for Varahi in Udupi district.