JKEEGA flags acute manpower shortage in power department

Srinagar, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA) has appealed to the UT administration, flagging a critical shortage of technical manpower that is hampering the delivery of essential power services amid the ongoing harsh winter.

The association highlighted a major administrative bottleneck in the recruitment of Junior Engineers (JEs). Despite the Services Selection Board (SSRB) issuing the General Merit List for 292 JEs nearly 60 days ago, the Final/Provisional Selection List is yet to be notified. JKEEGA said the delay has triggered a dual crisis—placing severe operational strain on the power department while creating prolonged professional uncertainty for successful candidates.

“The induction of these 292 Junior Engineers is not merely an administrative formality; it is an operational necessity, especially during the peak winter months,” said Er. Pirzada Hidayatullah, President of JKEEGA. “Efficient public service delivery depends on adequate technical manpower on the ground.”

The association noted that existing staff are being stretched beyond capacity to maintain the power grid and distribution network amid heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, leading to longer restoration times. At the same time, hundreds of qualified engineers who have cleared the merit criteria remain unable to contribute due to procedural delays.

JKEEGA has sought the personal intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and Additional Chief Secretary (Power Development Department) Shalindra Kumar. It has urged the authorities to direct the SSRB to expedite the selection process on a fast-track basis.

The association maintained that the immediate issuance of the selection list would significantly strengthen the power sector’s response capacity during winter and help prevent avoidable public inconvenience caused by manpower shortages.