Proposal on Enggs’ promotion referred to Establishment Comm
Employees’ interest to be fully protected
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 23: State Administrative Council (SAC), which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik today, accorded approval to the unbundling of the Power Development Department (PDD) within next one month. Moreover, a proposal seeking one time exemption from Public Service Commission for engineers’ promotion has been referred to the Establishment Committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that unbundling of Power Development Department was thoroughly discussed by the State Administrative Council and after analyzing the progress made by the authorities in this regard directions were issued for completion of entire exercise within next one month.
The SAC, as per the sources, observed that unbundling, which is pending since 2012, would go a long way in making power a self-sustaining sector besides bringing necessary improvements in the system.
The pros and cons of unbundling were also discussed in detail and all the Advisors as well as Chief Secretary were of the unanimous view that this step should be taken to logical conclusion as early as possible so as to bring turnaround in the power sector”, sources further informed, adding “the issues being raised by the employees of the department were also debated and the SAC was informed that there would not be any harm to the service conditions of the employees after unbundling”.
The unbundling has become imperative in view of the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, which lays thrust on apportionment of the assets and liabilities of the existing State of J&K immediately before the appointed day between the successor Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and successor Union Territory of Ladakh.
The Government intends to reorganize the Power Development Department into three companies (PSUs)–Ladakh Power Distribution Company Limited for Union Territory of Ladakh, Jammu Power Distribution Company Limited and Kashmir Power Distribution Company for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Only Ladakh Power Distribution Company Limited is to be incorporated as the rest two are already incorporated but are to be operationalized”, sources said, adding the transmission and distribution activities in the territorial jurisdiction of Union Territory of Ladakh will be in the domain of Ladakh Power Distribution Company Limited and transmission and distribution activities in the territorial jurisdiction of Jammu Province will be in the domain of Jammu Power Distribution Company Limited and the transmission and distribution activities in the territorial jurisdiction of Kashmir Province will be in the domain of Kashmir Power Distribution Company Limited.
Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Trading Company is being reorganized into territorial jurisdiction of Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The commercial aspects, power purchase and SLDC in the territorial jurisdiction of UT of Ladakh will be the responsibility of Ladakh Power Distribution/Generation Company. The existing J&K State Power Trading Company will continue to function in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Government even intends to reorganize J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL) into territorial jurisdiction of Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”, sources said, adding “all the operational, on-going, under-construction hydro projects, ongoing transmission line projects and PMDP projects presently lying with JKSPDCL in the Ladakh province will be in the domain of Ladakh Power Development Company Limited and the existing J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited will continue to function in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir”.
They disclosed that employees who were recruited before 2010 (prior to launch of New Pension Scheme) would be on deputation to these companies and would continue to get all the benefits which they are getting at present.
Moreover, they would get all the retirement benefits even after serving in these companies as they will be considered as Government employees till attaining age of superannuation. However, the vacancies to be created in these companies following retirement of employees would be filled as per the rules of the companies.
About proposal seeking one time exemption from Public Service Commission for engineers’ promotion, sources said, “the matter has been referred to the Establishment Committee headed by Chief Secretary with the direction to take decision within a period of one month so that not only the problems being faced by the PDD but other departments also are redressed”.
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