Editor,
Through the esteemed columns of your newspaper, I wish to draw urgent public attention towards the alarming administrative disorder, favouritism, policy paralysis, and institutional decline prevailing in the Department of Power, Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Department, which is responsible for powering the state’s growth and development, is today suffering from a severe crisis of leadership, transparency, accountability, and professional management.
Despite huge vacancies existing in key technical and administrative posts, Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) for eligible officers have remained pending for years, allegedly to accommodate vested interests.
This has deeply demoralised sincere officers and severely affected the morale and work culture within the Department.
The situation has become more concerning due to the following issues:
I) The Electrical Inspectorate, which is expected to function independently as a safety and regulatory authority, is reportedly being managed by Executive Engineers of Transmission and Distribution Zones themselves, creating a serious conflict of interest and compromising independent oversight.
II) Commercial operations and the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector are functioning under a combined arrangement through a single authority as Chief Engineer (Commercial-cum-CEI), concentrating critical regulatory and operational responsibilities under one office.
III) Several Divisions and Sub-Divisions are being run under in-charge or functional arrangements for prolonged periods, while many regular officers are sidelined in non-field postings despite acute field-level shortages.
IV) Transfer and posting policies appear arbitrary and non-transparent. Some officers are transferred frequently, while others continue in the same stations for over a decade, leading to unhealthy administrative monopolies and allegations of favoritism.
Merit, competence, and experience no longer appear to be the guiding principles for important postings. Instead, lobbying and influence are widely perceived to dominate the system.
The cumulative result of these failures is reflected in the poor performance of the Department. Despite massive investments and continuous funding under Central flagship schemes, Arunachal Pradesh continues to face very high AT&C losses, weak revenue realization, poor maintenance standards, and declining public confidence in the power sector, only because of political interference in regularisation of transfer and posting of right officers.
The present state of affairs clearly indicates the urgent need for fresh vision, professional leadership, and structural reforms within the Department of Power.
In the larger interest of the Department and the State, it is respectfully felt that the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister may consider relinquishing the charge of the Power portfolio to another capable and dedicated leader who can devote focused attention, administrative energy, and long-term vision towards reviving the power sector and restoring institutional confidence.
The power sector is too critical to the future of Arunachal Pradesh to remain trapped in administrative stagnation and policy inaction.
The Government must urgently ensure:
- Time-bound DPCs and regular promotions
- Independent functioning of Electrical Inspectorate
- Transparent transfer and posting policy
- Merit-based appointments
- Accountability for financial and operational losses
- Professional and visionary leadership in the Department
- Strengthening of Commercial Zone of Department to achieve desired revenue realisation.
The people of Arunachal Pradesh deserve a power sector driven by integrity, competence, professionalism, and public service – not by favoritism, stagnation, and bureaucratic paralysis.
Concerned Citizen of Arunachal Pradesh