Dr Basant Garg appointed new CMD of PSPCL and PSTCL as state eyes sale of assets to plug revenue gap
Chandigarh: In a major administrative shake-up, the Punjab government on Thursday removed senior IAS officer Ajoy Kumar Sinha from his dual role as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Power Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL).
The abrupt move comes at a time when the state’s power sector is reeling under a severe financial crunch and the government is considering the sale of prime PSPCL-owned land to raise revenue — a proposal that has already sparked protests from employee unions.
In Sinha’s place, Dr Basant Garg, a senior bureaucrat with a reputation for administrative efficiency, has been appointed as CMD of both PSPCL and PSTCL. Garg will also hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Power Department, consolidating his role at the heart of Punjab’s energy management.
Sinha, a 1996-batch IAS officer, has not been given a new posting and has been asked to report to the Department of Personnel for further instructions. The orders, issued by Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, said that Sinha’s next assignment would be announced later. His removal adds to a list of senior officers currently without key portfolios, underscoring ongoing churn within the state bureaucracy.
The timing of the reshuffle has raised eyebrows across administrative circles. Punjab’s AAP-led government is currently under pressure to generate additional revenue to manage its debt burden and subsidy payouts. The proposed liquidation of PSPCL’s unused land assets — intended to mobilize funds for the cash-strapped power utilities — has drawn strong opposition from power sector employees, who fear it could weaken the corporations in the long run.
“The government should focus on strengthening PSPCL financially, not selling off its assets,” said a senior union leader, warning of possible statewide agitation if the plan proceeds.
The shake-up also triggered a string of related appointments. Arshdeep Singh Thind, who previously handled the state’s anti-drug campaign, has been appointed as Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Department, replacing Dr Garg. Meanwhile, Sanyam Aggarwal will now serve as Nodal Officer for the Anti-Drug Campaign, succeeding Thind.
Though the government has not cited specific reasons for Sinha’s removal, senior officials indicated it was part of a broader administrative realignment aimed at bringing “fresh energy and accountability” to departments under stress.
The state’s power sector — long plagued by high transmission losses, subsidy burdens, and growing liabilities — has been a persistent challenge for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration. With fiscal deadlines approaching and union opposition intensifying, Dr Garg’s leadership will be closely watched as he takes charge of one of Punjab’s most critical and contentious sectors.
Further clarity on Sinha’s reassignment and the progress of the revenue-generation plan is expected in the coming weeks.
