NT Reporter
Panaji
Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar on Friday said the Electricity Department has lodged a complaint with the Chief Secretary after the police, acting on the orders of a Deputy Collector, took away an on-duty Assistant Engineer attached to the Tivim substation, for failing to report for the special intensive revision (SIR) duty.
“The Chief Secretary will make an inquiry and take a decision on what action needs to be taken,” Dhavalikar said, reacting to the Thursday’s incident which came under criticism from department officials and political parties too.
Despite a senior officer writing to the election authorities of the inability to relieve the AE as he is a key person in running the substation, the AE was escorted by the police to report for SIR work as booth-level officer supervisor following orders of
deputy collector.
Denying that the AE was detained, a senior officer from the Collectorate said that he was only served “marching orders”.
Dhavalikar said the action taken by the Deputy Collector was wrong.
Dhavalikar said there are important power substations like 220 kVA and 110 kVA, and the Assistant Engineers are assigned specific duties there.
“These engineers cannot leave their duty under any circumstances,” the minister said, adding that engineers working at the substations are not even allowed to receive phone calls while on duty.
The minister also said no one is allowed to enter the substation without proper permission.
“Whatever that happened has been reported to the Chief Secretary,” Dhavalikar said.
Social activist and Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department Kashinath Shetye strongly condemned the ‘detention’ of the AE, demanding the immediate suspension of the officials involved.
Shetye also raised concerns that the incident was suggestive of the misuse of power and possible ego-driven conduct rather than a measured response to any emergent situation.
