Zero tolerance towards corruption in Power Department, asserts Harbhajan Singh ETO

Chandigarh: Reiterating Punjab Government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy towards corruption in the state, Punjab Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government is committed to give a corruption-free administration to the people of Punjab and all necessary measures are being taken in this regard.

Taking a serious note of cases of corruption by some officials and officers of PSPCL in the recent past, the Cabinet Minister said that corruption at any level would not be tolerated and Mann government will act tough against delinquent officials and no one found indulging in menace of corruption would be spared.

The Power Minister said that recently in cases of corruption in PSPCL, swift and stern action was taken against Er. Gurjinder Singh, SDO DS Sub Division Mubarkpur, who was accused of harassing an applicant in case of release of industrial connection and he was immediately suspended on dated 28-04-2023 after enquiry by the Enforcement Wing of PSPCL. Similarly, Er. Harjit Singh, SDO and Er. Darshan Singh SDO were also suspended on 28-04-2023 for their role in embezzlement of material drawn from PSPCL stores after enquiry by the Technical Audit Wing of PSPCL. Further, in the same case, Er. Chhinder Pal Singh, SDO, Er. Daljit Singh JE and Sh. Ajitpal Singh, Line Man of DS Sub-Division, Bassian were also suspended for large scale material embezzlement. Prior to this, Er. Sumel Singh, Addl. SE DS Division, Amloh and his Divisional Accountant Sh. Kiran Kumar were also suspended due to embezzlement of PSPCL Funds after enquiry by the Audit Wing of PSPCL.

He informed that FIRs have been registered in both these cases and involvement of senior officers in these cases is also being investigated. He said that anyone found guilty shall not be spared.

The Power Minister further said that he will not tolerate any ill treatment of the esteemed consumers and indulgence in corrupt practices by any employee at any level of the Power Department and in future also strict action shall be taken against the delinquent officers & officials.

S. Harbhajan Singh ETO also urged the people of Punjab to cooperate the state government to uproot this menace of bribery from the state and if any officer or official of power department asks for a bribe, it should be reported immediately to his office.