The lack of transparency and the flouting of parameters in appointment of senior officials in the Energy Department have left many eligible officers upset.
Take the case of the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) Director Finance Samir Ranjan Swain, whose service was terminated by the State Government on December 31, 2021 stating, “His further continuance is detrimental to the interest of the organisation.” Later, Swain moved the Orissa High Court against the order and managed to get a stay on it.
However, insiders said Swain’s appointment itself in the OPTCL was controversial as he was not qualifying the recruitment criteria which stated that if a candidate is from the private sector, the company in which he is working should be listed in the stock exchange.
Swain was earlier employed as Additional Vice President, BSES, Rajdhani Power Ltd., a Joint Venture of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd and Government of NCT of Delhi. The aforesaid company is not listed in the stock exchanges. So his application for the OPTCL Director Finance post should have been rejected.
The sources further alleged that during the tender process for various contracts he favoured certain companies. He also showed undue favour to defaulting companies of executing agencies, who had left the works incomplete or executed it poorly. For this, the OPTCL had deducted 10 per cent funds. But Swain waived the rules and paid the money to the defaulting companies.
The appointment of Rajendra Senapathy and controversial functioning as Vice President and Director HR of Odisha Power Generation Corporation(OPGC) was also under the scanner.
The appointment of Odisha Coal and Power Limited Managing Director Sariputa Mishra also raised many eyebrows. He further appointed a couple as DGM (Civil) and Deputy Manager (HR) which raised many questions.
The appointment of OHPC Managing Director Amaresh Kumar has also come under the lens.
Due to these controversial appointments, other officers are feeling demoralised, let down and concerned about the organisations functioning and their future.