Energy dept EEs who switch off mobile phones to be suspended

Executive engineers (EEs) working in the Energy Department will face suspension if they keep their official mobile phones switched off while on duty, Energy minister D K Shivakumar has said.

“There are complaints that the executive engineers working with escoms in the state are not properly responding to public grievances. There are also complaints that they are not available for communication when needed. The government has decided to suspend officers for switching off their official mobile phones while on duty,” the minister told reporters on Friday during his visit to Karnataka Vidyuth Karkhane Limited.

The decision has been taken to make the staff accountable and redress public grievances at the earliest. Accountability would be fixed on officers of all ranks, to redress grievances of the public.

“There are complaints that some executive engineers keep their phones switched off. The vigilance squad has been directed to keep an eye on such officials,” he said.

“Instructions have been given to all factories to manufacture only five-star transformers from July 1. The government has made it mandatory to use four-star transformers in rural areas and five star transformers in urban areas. About 25% of power can be saved by using the five-star transformers, while expenses may go up by just 5%,” the minister said.

Officials taken to task

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday is learnt to have pulled up Bescom officials for “failing to live up to the expectations of people” in attending to power related complaints during the recent rains in Bengaluru.

At a review meeting at his residence in Bengaluru, Shivakumar is said to have referred to the recent incident wherein there was  a power cut at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office for 10 minutes when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was addressing a press conference along with AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal.

“You people made me a laughing stock..... you are lowering my respect in the eyes of the people,” Shivakumar is said to have stated in his outburst.

He also sought details on the action taken by Bescom officials in various jurisdictions on attending to power-related complaints.