No nepotism in WBSEDCL, WBSETCL and WBPDCL appointments: Sobhandeb

The state Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Thursday categorically said that no nepotism or favouritism would be allowed in filling up vacant posts in West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL), West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company (WBSETCL) and West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL).

He said the vacant posts will be filled up following the proper method. "There will be no nepotism or favouritism and the recruitment process will be transparent," he said.

Hundreds of letters have been sent to the minister by former employees of West Bengal State Electricity Board requesting him to take steps to stop nepotism.

Chattopadhyay said that he had asked the senior officials of the generation and distribution companies to transfer employees who had been working in different offices for decades.

"What vested interest they have I do not know, but they will all be transferred. I fail to understand how could a person can be in the administrative offices for 17 years," he said.

The State Power department was a den of corruption during the Left Front regime. Even the erstwhile Power minister and senior engineers and officials had practically no say in running the department and the transfer and posting of employees were looked after by the CPI(M) affiliated union.

It is interesting to note that even senior electrical engineers had to listen to the Union leaders to run power stations. The system had become so corrupt that only some firms close to CPI(M) got tender papers and could file tenders. The other firms had reported the matter to the officials but their complaints had failed to evoke any response.

After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tried to put an end to corruption and nepotism. Though she was successful in creating a dent, the CPI(M( supporters continued to affect administration of the power generation and distribution companies clandestinely.

Chattopadhyay said that measures had been taken for financial and administrative discipline of the power generation and distribution companies.