A storm is brewing in Punjab’s power sector — and this time, it’s the engineers leading the charge. Over a thousand power professionals have united in open protest against what they call rampant political interference and arbitrary decisions threatening the state’s energy stability. But here’s where it gets especially heated: their outrage is squarely directed at Power Minister Sanjeev Arora.
In an unprecedented show of unity, more than 1,000 engineers — spanning Chief Engineers, Assistant Engineers, and even retired officers — assembled in Patiala for a powerful state-level meeting. This wasn’t just another bureaucratic gathering. It was a loud, organized declaration from members of the PSPCL, PSTCL, and BBMB, backed by various unions, demanding an end to what they describe as political meddling that compromises professional autonomy.
The PSEB Engineers’ Association spearheaded the event, warning of “serious threats to the independence and technical integrity of Punjab’s power institutions.” Their grievances focused on multiple controversial actions by Minister Arora, which, they claim, have undermined institutional credibility. Among them: alleged attempts to sell key power sector assets, obstructions delaying the commissioning of two 800 MW units at the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant in Ropar, and what many deem the improper suspension of Chief Engineer Harish Sharma. The association also slammed the dismissal of Harjit Singh, Director of Generation, labeling the technical grounds for his removal as baseless and politically motivated.
But that’s not all — the discussion went beyond individual cases. Engineers spoke passionately about a deepening pattern of political overreach affecting technical, administrative, and procurement operations within the Power Corporation. They warned that these interferences have not only crippled daily functioning but also violated the Chief Minister’s much-touted “Zero Power Outage” mission. If the trend continues, they argue, Punjab risks long-term instability in electricity supply — a scenario that could hit both industries and everyday consumers hard.
Every participant at the Patiala meeting echoed one firm resolution: the need to protect Punjab’s power infrastructure from political manipulation. The engineers vowed to oppose any effort to privatize or sell public energy assets and to resist attempts to create fear within the workforce. Their message was simple yet uncompromising — professional governance, not political control, must steer the future of Punjab’s power sector.
But here’s the real question: are these engineers safeguarding public interest — or resisting necessary reforms in a changing energy landscape? Does political oversight help ensure accountability, or does it destroy technical independence? The debate is far from over — what’s your take?
