PDD marred by vacant posts, adhocism

Srinagar, Aug 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) is currently operating with 798 vacant posts in the engineering cadre of the 2453 sanctioned positions, a vacancy rate of nearly 33 percent.

This staffing shortage spans all levels, from top management to entry-level roles.

Compounding the issue, engineers within the department are facing significant delays in career progression and regularisation, leading to widespread discontent.

According to data obtained by Greater Kashmir, as of August 1, 2024, the PDD is operating with 798 unfilled positions across all its corporations.

This represents a vacancy rate of nearly 33 percent of the 2453 sanctioned posts, spanning from top management to entry-level engineering roles.

The leadership vacuum is particularly alarming.

Only three of the five Managing Director positions are filled, while all four Executive Director (E) posts remain vacant.

Critical roles such as the Joint Managing Director of CVPPPL and the Secretary (Technical) are also unoccupied, raising concerns about the department’s ability to make strategic decisions and implement reforms effectively.

The engineering corps, crucial for maintaining and expanding the power infrastructure, is severely understaffed.

Eight of the 13 Chief Engineer positions (62 percent) are vacant, with similar shortages cascading down the ranks.

Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers, and Junior Engineers all face significant vacancy rates ranging from 22 percent to 53 percent.

This widespread understaffing is likely to result in operational inefficiencies, delayed project implementation, and potentially compromise the quality of power supply to the region.

Adding to the department’s woes is the growing frustration among engineers over delayed regularisations and promotions.

President of the Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA), Pirzada Hidayatullah expressed deep dismay at the “prolonged and inexcusable neglect” of the engineering cadres’ prospects.

Hidayatullah highlighted a 2019 decision by the State Administrative Council (SAC) that promised to fast-track regularisations, bypassing usual channels as a special exemption.

However, nearly 5 years later, engineers find themselves in bureaucratic limbo, with even recent directives from the Lieutenant Governor's office in August 2023 failing to break the deadlock.

“Other departments like PWD, I&FC, and MED have completed regularisation processes swiftly, despite not having the special exemptions granted to the power sector. This disparity has further demoralised the engineering staff and raised questions about equitable treatment across government sectors,” Hidayatullah said.

A senior engineer in the PDD said, “The situation in our department has become untenable. We are facing a bizarre reality where years of experience and expertise are being grossly undervalued. Imagine this – some chief engineers are responsible for overseeing critical power infrastructure projects, yet their salary is equivalent to that of an Assistant Executive Engineer.”

“It's not just me. Many of my colleagues at the Superintending Engineer level are drawing salaries of Junior Engineers. This isn’t just about money. It is about the complete disregard for our professional growth and the invaluable experience we bring to the table. We are stuck in a time warp, our careers frozen while the world moves on. This stagnation is not just demoralising for us, it is potentially dangerous for the entire power sector in J&K. How can we attract and retain talent when senior engineers are treated this way? The administration needs to wake up to this crisis before it is too late.”