Our Correspondent Ludhiana, December 4 Work in the offices of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) came to a halt as employees and officials struck work, held gate rallies and closed gates of the PSPCL offices at some place in the city in protest against the non-payment of salaries and pensions by the two power corporations entrusted with transmission and distribution of electricity. PSPCL employees, along with officials, held rallies at both main gates of zonal office and called upon the PSPCL and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) for immediate release of salary to the employees and pension to the retirees who were finding it difficult to manage their households due to financial constraints. Speakers at the rally — Kewal Singh Banwait, secretary (East Circle), Chamkaur Singh, Tejwant Singh Sidhu and others warned the power corporations and the state government against any further delay in disbursement of salary for the last month. “Issue of finances, including payment of arrears of subsidy, be sorted out immediately by the state government with the power corporations without any further delay, failing which the protesting employees would further intensify the agitation,” said the protesting employees. Employees of Aggar Nagar division of the PSPCL locked gates of the divisional office and held demonstration under the joint banner of PSEB Employees’ Federation (AITUC) and Technical Services Union (TSU). The employees also served an ultimatum to the PSPCL management for payment of salaries immediately. They added that if their demands were not met, they would be forced to intensify their protest. During the joint rally by the PSEB Employees’ Federation (AITUC), TSU and PSEB Pensioners Association at 220-KV Lalton Kalan substation, protesters alleged that the Punjab Government had enough funds to splurge on perks to law makers and creating a force of ‘advisors’ at the cost of hundreds of crores, but when it came to payment of salaries and pensions to its employees and pensioners financial crisis came in the way. Powercom employees hold protest Samrala: Powercom employees and pensioners on Wednesday held a protest over the non-payment of their salary and pensions here. The dharna was led by Samrala Mandal president Sikander Singh. Protesters raised slogans against the Powercom management for not releasing their salary and pension and threatened to intensify their protest if their demands were not met immediately. This dharna continued for about an hour in front of the complaint centre, Samrala, and later they took out a foot march in which about 200 persons participated.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.