Tension between employees and management at Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) is escalating. The standoff is now impacting power consumers as employees begin their ‘work-to-rule’ protest.
Under this policy, employees will only work during official duty hours. In case of a power outage at night, it will not be restored until 10 the next morning. A representative from the employees’ union confirmed this as the first phase of their agitation.
The protest follows the board’s decision to abolish 51 posts, ranging from assistant engineers to superintendent engineers. Additionally, 700 other posts have been declared surplus. This means, as employees retire, these positions will be permanently eliminated.
Lokesh Thakur, general secretary, Power Engineers Association, criticised the board’s move. He stated that cutting posts without consulting employee unions would block promotions and lower morale.
While the government is creating new offices in politically-favoured constituencies such as Dehra and Haroli, it is also eliminating critical positions. Thakur argued that this will not reduce financial strain on the board but instead adversely affect employees’ morale.
Meanwhile, sources say the board is cutting senior management costs, which was increasing the financial burden on consumers. Industrial associations had earlier urged the government to trim the board’s management to prevent cost hikes.
The government has also implemented austerity measures. For instance, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu set an example by giving up his power subsidy. Following his appeal, over 1,000 consumers voluntarily did the same.
When contacted, Sandeep Kumar, managing director, HPSEB declined to comment, citing leave.
Sources indicate that behind-the-scenes talks are underway with employee unions to prevent further escalation. In response, unions have temporarily put their mass casual leave plan on hold.
