J&K power sector reels under staff crunch

Srinagar, Sep 14: Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector is in the grip of a severe staffing crisis, with more than 80 percent of sanctioned posts of Superintending Engineers (SEs) lying vacant across its corporations.

The acute shortfall has forced the government to assign multiple additional charges to a limited number of officers, leaving them overburdened with crucial responsibilities at a time when the sector is under mounting pressure to improve performance.

According to official data, out of a total of 36 sanctioned SE-level posts, only seven are currently filled, while 29 remain vacant.

The vacancies are spread across the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDC), Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), and the J&K Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL).

The shortage has compelled the department to distribute additional charges, with some officers managing three to four divisions simultaneously.

In certain cases, the same officer is responsible for operations and maintenance (O&M) circles, project circles, procurement, planning, and even technical advisory roles.

Critical posts such as O&M Circles in Srinagar, Pulwama, Sopore, Anantnag, Rajouri, and Kishtwar; Project Circles in Jammu and Kashmir; Generation Circles in Kashmir; Procurement and Planning Circles in both regions; and key technical roles including Chief Electrical Inspector, Technical Officers to Managing Directors, and positions in the PMU, JERC, and Trading Wing are all lying vacant.

Officials acknowledge that the arrangement is far from sustainable.

“When one officer is expected to manage multiple circles across different districts, close monitoring and timely decision-making take a hit. This impacts not only daily operations but also long-term project implementation,” a source said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has termed the situation a “critical vacuum at top engineering positions in the PDD” and urged urgent government intervention.

“Against 36 sanctioned posts of Superintending Engineers, only 7 are in position. As of August 1, 2025, 29 posts were vacant. By December this year, due to retirements and promotions, nearly 33 posts will fall vacant, leaving just three officers to run the entire system,” JKEEGA President Peerzada Hidyatullah said.

The association has appealed for partial relaxation in eligibility criteria for promotion from Executive Engineer to SE, arguing that flagship schemes such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and Central Sector Schemes (CSS) are being hit due to the leadership gap.

With Kashmir heading into the high-demand winter season, stakeholders fear that the unprecedented 80 percent vacancy at the SE level could severely impact the reliability of electricity supply and derail long-term reforms.

A senior official summed up the situation, saying, “The shortage of Superintending Engineers has reached alarming levels. Unless urgent steps are taken to fill these posts, both ongoing projects and consumer services will continue to suffer.”