SJVNL accused of breaching pact terms

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 25

The HP Project Engineers’ Association slammed Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) for not adhering to the terms and conditions of agreements signed between the Government of India and the state.

In a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, association office-bearers Kewal Singh Shandil, BS Thakur, MK Sharma and RPS Siddu said the state had signed an agreement with the Centre on July 23, 1991, under which the HPSEBL’s 2,870 regular employees were transferred for the execution of 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project. Then another agreement was signed between the two on January 24, 2000.

Even the Ministry of Power had ratified the agreements on June 3, 2003. In 2004, the SJVN and the state signed an agreement for the execution of Rampur project under Clause 8, as per which 40 per cent of approved staff should be taken from the HPSEB on absorption or deputation. In case of retirement, repatriation or death, the replacement should be taken from the HPSEB, they added

Similarly, an MoU for the execution of Luhri and Dhaulasidh projects was signed on October 22, 2008, in which it was stipulated that the existing agreement related to the deployment of manpower from the HPSEB would be implemented for both projects.

The association said the SJVNL had flouted the norms. “The NJPC/SJVN never took replacement from the HPSEB,” the association charged.

They alleged that financial benefits on a par with SJVN employees had also been withdrawn and the HPSEBL’s strength in the SJVNL had reduced from 2,870 to 667.

Even the financial benefits/allowances as per the HPSEB have been denied.

Himachal is getting only 12 per cent free power and a dividend of 6 to7 per cent in lieu of 25.50 per cent to 30 per cent cost sharing from the NJPC and Rampur projects. “Balance profits from these projects are kept as reserves for spending on projects in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Arunachal and Nepal,” the members said.