State govt. will fill vacant posts in all power supply companies, says George

Energy Minister K.J. George has said that the State government is in the process of recruiting people for vacant posts in all four electricity supply companies under the department.

Addressing a press conference after chairing a review meeting with officers of Gulbarga Electricity Company (GESCOM) in Yadgir on Monday, Mr. George said that engineer posts, including assistant engineer, junior engineer and assistant executive engineer, have already been filled and 1,500 newly appointed engineers have been posted for duty.

This apart, 3,000 posts of linemen will be shortly filled, he said.

When asked about necessary posts remaining vacant under GESCOM, the Minister said that KPTCL will fill them.

To a query, Mr. George said that electricity due bills, which are pending with various government departments, will be recovered after discussing the issue with the Ministers concerned.

When asked about power cuts owing to power shortage, the Energy Minister replied that there is no shortage in power supply, as the State has enough power.

The Minister said that the State government under the Congress rule has not increased electricity charge for individual consumption by consumers. He said that all four electricity supply companies will be strengthened with all necessary infrastructure.

Mr. George refrained from commenting more on questions from journalists related to the latest political developments, saying that he can only answer questions related to his department.

He asked Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy to place proper evidence on his charge of huge amounts going to Congress MLAs.

When asked about the former MP D.K. Suresh’s remark on change in Congress leadership, Mr. George said that “you should ask him only.”

He further said that there is a system in the party to choose the Chief Minister, except in a few exceptional circumstances, as S. Bangarappa was appointed Chief Minister in such circumstances.

Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, MLAs Channareddy Patil Tunnur and Raja Venugopal Naik, MP G. Kumar Naik, GESCOM Chairman Praveen Harval, KPTCL Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pande, GESCOM Managing Director Krishna Bajpai, Deputy Commissioner Harshal Bhoyar, CEO Lavish Ordia and others were present.