The state’s energy generation company power development corporation (PDC), which is responsible for planning and execution of hydropower projects, is lying headless for the past two months while as several positions of chief engineers and other top officials have been assigned as additional charges.
Government has failed to initiate process to appoint managing director PDC after its previous head Shah Faesal went abroad for studies in June this year.
The post is currently handled as additional charge by commissioner secretary power. “Even for a minor decision we have to shuttle between corporation office and commissioner secretary’s office at civil secretariat. Sometime it takes entire day to discuss an issue as the commissioner remains busy with office work,” said an official.
The PDC, he said, needs a full time MD and can’t be run on crutches. “It is not a part time job,” said the official.
In the past, the government has often come under criticism for frequently changing the corporation’s head. In its 29 years of existence, the PDC has seen 35 MDs getting changed with average tenure of the official not extending beyond nine months.
Apart from MD, position of chief engineer civil investigation and designing Kashmir, chief engineer (civil) 900-MW Baglihar (I and II) and chief engineer of upcoming projects of New Ganderbal and Kirthai have not been filled after the positions fell vacant months ago.
Also, positions of executive director civil works of the Corporation and at least 15 posts of executive engineers haven’t been filled. They too are being looked after as additional charge by other officials.
“The Baglihar is crucial project and earns our bread and butter. The position of chief engineer civil at the project is managed by executive engineer mechanical,” said another official, adding a chief engineer in the corporation from Jammu is retiring next month.
The government has also failed to depute joint managing director from the PDC to Chenab Valley Power Projects Corporation, a joint venture between NHPC, PDC and PTC for execution of three projects.
The situation is equally worse in different wings of power development department (PDD). While position of development commissioner power, a link between field wing and administration, is lying vacant for many months, at least 11 position positions of chief engineers have been assigned as additional charge to officers. Besides, posts of secretary technical, and four superintendent engineers in Kashmir are lying vacant.