A large number of farmers belonging to farmer’s unions including Jamhuri Kisan Sabha of Amritsar and Tarn Taran, Bhartiya Kisan Union, Kisan Sangharsh Committee along with Employee unions on Monday staged a protest outside Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) office against the transfer of GS Khaira, Deputy Chief Engineer, Tarn Taran circle.

As per the transfer order issued by PSPCL dated April 9, GS Khaira has been transferred as SE Protection/Maintenance, Amritsar.

The farmers and employees are demanding the revocation of the transfer order of GS Khaira. Farmer leaders claim that various political leaders in Tarn Taran are interfering in the government’s functioning and forcing the transfer of honest officers.

“SE Khaira took many concrete steps including stopping power theft and installing large number of transformers. Tarn Taran is in dire need of such an honest officer but some leaders have resorted to petty politics to get their votes and got the officer transferred, which will not be tolerated at all,” said a protesting farmer.

“The AAP government needs to make its stand clear why they are transferring an honest and hardworking officer like SE GS Khaira. I have never witnessed such a big gathering in support of a government officer,” said Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, State President Kisan Sangharsh Committee.

“Since GS Khaira has been posted in Tarn Taran, he has solved many problems of farmers. Many feeders were overloaded in these areas. He ordered the deloading of feeders as per the complaints of the farmers and ordered the checking of others. Khaira went to lengths to solve the farmer’s issues that no officers did before. He brought revenue to the government and detected power loss. The AAP government should answer why they have started functioning like the previous government who rather than praising honest officers is punishing him with the transfer,” he added.

PSPCL earned more than 100 cr revenue in my tenure as SE Tarn Taran circle: GS Khaira

Meanwhile, GS Khaira said that the PSCPL circle generated over Rs 100 crore in his tenure as SE Tarn Taran circle.

“Thousand of meter pillar boxes were replaced/sealed which helped in loss reduction and building 11.5 cr more units and 7% losses were reduced because of which Pspcl earned approx 75 cr revenue. Rs 21.5 crore was recovered under the Voluntary Disclosure scheme of agriculture tubewell load,” GS Khaira informed.

“3300 transformers of the farmers were augmented / newly installed. Scheme sanctioned for 58 overloaded 11 KV feeders. Rs 5.86 crore power theft was detected. A famous Dera which had a running load of more than 200 Kw for 40 years was detected and made to pay the bill in lakhs,” the officer added.

Union & Farmers group that staged a protest

Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Kisan Sangharsh Committee Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, Bharti Kisan Union Rajewal, Jamhuri Kisan Sabha, Kul Hind Kisan sabha, Kisan Mazdur Sangharsh Committee Satnam (Singh Pannu group), Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Kot Budha group), Kirti Kisaan Union, Shaheed bhagat Singh Naujwan sabha

Employee unions-Technical service union, Employees Federation Chahal group, Democratic Employees Front, PSEB Employees AITUC Federation, PSEB Engineer Association, MSU, Roadways worker’s Union, Health unions, Focal Point Industrial Union Tarn Taran, Goindwal Industrial Unions, Powercom Pensioners association, Account Cadre unions, Power Com Pensioner Union, Government Teacher Union, Jat Maha Sabha.