While presiding over the 19th foundation day of HPSEB Ltd. Technical Employees Union here today Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh was known as the power state of the country and credit of this goes to the employees of the State Electricity Board. He said that the employees of the Board were working with dedication and commitment so that every household of the State could be illuminated.Jai Ram Thakur said that the there was immense potential of power in the State and private sector was also interesting to invest in the State. But it was unfortunate that some vested interests with political motives were causing hindrance in it and wherever the new project starts these vested interests camp their with Flag. He said that till date over 10000 MW power has been harnessed in the State and efforts were on the harness the remaining potential at the earliest through private, public and government participation. He said that the State Government was framing the new Power Policy for the early harnessing of power potential at the earliest.The Chief Minister announced that the minimum required length of service of the lineman to foreman will be lowered from seven years to five years. He also announced that mobile allowance would be provided to the field functionaries of the Board after finalizing all modalities. He said that 600 posts of the technical employees in the State Electricity Board would be filled at the earliest.
Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the State under the leadership of the Chief Minister was poised to make Himachal Pradesh a Power State of the country.MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma said that the technical employees of the Board were playing major role in providing power to event the remotest villages of the State. He said that the State Government was committed for the welfare of the employees. He said that for this, active cooperation of the technical employees was solicited.Prant Pracharak, RSS Sanjeevan Kumar said that the technical employees were working with dedication for ensuring success of the power projects in the State.Employees leader Surinder Thakur also spoke on the occasion.President of Power Engineer Association Sunil Grover said that the technical employees of the State were playing a pivotal role in making Himachal Pradesh the Power State of the country. He said that when the State was formed only 1200 villages had electricity facility and today almost hundred percent household have been electrified.State President of the Union Mohan Lal Thakur assured that the technical employees would work with commitment and zeal to come up to the expectation of the State Government. He urged the Chief Minister to sympathetically consider their various demands. Shimla District President of the Union Khoob Chand Sharma detailed various demands of the Union. He said that over 240 posts of foreman were lying vacant in the Board and urged the Chief Minister for promotion of Linemen to these posts.