Shimla, Dec 5,
The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) has issued an official notification abolishing the post of Director (Civil) with immediate effect. This development, detailed in Office Order has sparked concerns among stakeholders regarding the future of the Civil Engineering Wing within the board.
The decision is part of an ongoing restructuring process that has seen the elimination of several posts in the engineering and administrative wings. The move has not gone unnoticed, with a former HPSEB engineer taking to social media to express concerns. “HPSEB is slowly and surely pushing the Civil Wing to null. Sorry state of affairs,” the tweet read.
The board has faced criticism for what many perceive as a systematic downsizing of key operational functions. Earlier, the management had abolished several vacant engineering posts, raising questions about the long-term viability of core infrastructure roles. Now, the abolition of a senior-level post like Director (Civil) marks another significant shift in the board’s functional hierarchy.
Adding to the controversies, the HPSEB has recently retrenched approximately 101 outsourced drivers. These individuals were hired to support operational logistics but have now been relieved of their services, further highlighting the board’s cost-cutting measures.
Simultaneously, HPSEB has outsourced the installation of smart meters to a private company. This decision aligns with the board’s attempts to modernize its infrastructure but has also drawn criticism for reducing in-house functional roles. Many argue that such outsourcing diminishes the capacity of public sector expertise while transferring critical functions to private entities.
HPSEB’s financial woes appear to be at the center of these changes. The board reportedly incurs annual losses of around ₹2,000 crore, exacerbated by its policy of providing free electricity to domestic consumers who use less than 125 units per month. While this policy benefits many low-income households, critics claim it places an unsustainable burden on the board’s finances.
It is worth noting that HPSEBL is one of only two state-run public electricity boards in India, alongside West Bengal’s state electricity board. This legacy of public sector operation has been a point of pride for Himachal Pradesh, but recent developments signal a shift toward privatization and cost efficiency, potentially altering the board’s traditional structure.
As HPSEBL navigates these turbulent times, stakeholders are divided on whether these measures will stabilize the board’s financial health or erode its core public service ethos. For now, the restructuring continues, leaving employees and the public to speculate on the future of the state’s electricity board.
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