Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has issued department charge sheets to three of its officials and show-cause notices to 19 of them for their alleged failure to prevent a furnace oil tank blast at Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant here last December.
The blast in the furnace oil tank had resulted in a massive fire, destroying over 200-kilolitre oil worth Rs 1.25 crore.
A three-member committee headed by the chief engineer of the thermal plant, K Lall, had been constituted to probe the incident. The other members of the committee are: JK Gupta, deputy chief engineer (operation), Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant, and RK Jindal, deputy chief engineer (mechanical maintenance).
PSPCL management has now chargesheeted three shift-charge engineers and issued show-cause notices to other 19 officials for lapses on their part.
It was reported that high pressure inside the furnace oil tank had led to the blast. The investigation committee had remained at the thermal plant for more than three weeks to investigate the matter and recorded the statements of all officials involved.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the officials who have been served charge sheets and show cause notices have decided not to give individual replies, claiming that they were not at fault. They have pleaded that the association of the employees of the plant should submit a joint reply on their behalf.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, it is learnt that the officials who have been served charge sheets and show cause notices have decided not to give individual replies, claiming that they were not at fault. They have pleaded that the association of the employees of the plant should submit a joint reply on their behalf.
{{/usCountry}}Contacted PSPCL director (generation) GS Chhabra refused to comment, saying that chief engineer of the thermal plant should be contacted for the same. However, chief engineer K Lall was not available for comment.