RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) is facing an acute shortage of staff, badly affecting its service delivery and increasing complaints of the consumers.

According to Mepco sources there are total 1,681 sanctioned seats in the company’s RYK circle, including those of executive engineers (EXENs), sub-divisional officers (SDOs), line superintendents (LSs), linemen, assistant linemen, meter readers, peons and guards, but the existing strength of the staff is only 768.

Presently, there are four EXENs and 19 SDOs working under a senior engineer in the four tehsils of the RYK district.

According to Mepco record, in 1992 total consumers in RYK circle were 170,000 who were catered by 11 feeders.

Now the number of consumers has swelled to 678,000, but the number of feeders is only 108.

Sources said the last recruitment of line superintendents (LSs) was made in 2003.

In 2017 many SDOs were recruited, but around 80 per cent of them left Mepco because of workload, they added.

During the same year, they said, three more line superintendents were recruited in RYK circle.

Sources disclosed that in RYK operation division there were only 2 SDOs in sub divisions of Bahadarpur and Satellite Town.

But for the last many years in the three sub divisions of City, Jinnah and Gulshan, line superintendents had been holding the charge of SDOs office allegedly due to political influence, the sources said, adding that interestingly all the three officials (LSs) had been posted in their home district.

Mepco’s Public Relations Director Jamshaid Niazi told Dawn that to overcome the persisting staff shortage and fill the vacant slots the company would soon hire a Testing Service Authority for conducting tests of the candidates.

He said that after seeking approval from the concerned quarters for the proposal, Mepco would float tenders for the purpose.

Another issue being faced by consumers in the RYK circle, is frequent absence of officers because of the departmental litigation. Those visiting the Mepco offices are told that officers have gone for court appearances.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2019