Patiala: The Punjab govt on Monday transferred two senior IAS officers, handing Gurkirat Kirpal Singh additional charge of state’s power administration and moving Basant Garg to industries and commerce with immediate effect.The transfer comes amid industrial and agriculture sector witnessing prolonged power cuts followed with farmer protests across various parts of the state during the ongoing paddy season. The opposition has also targeted govt and demanded a white paper.An order issued by chief secretary KAP Sinha assigned Gurkirat, a 2001-batch IAS officer, additional charges as principal secretary, power; principal secretary, new and renewable energy sources; chairman-cum-managing director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL); and chairman-cum-managing director of Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL). He will retain his post as principal secretary, social security, women and child development.Gurkirat replaces Garg, a 2005-batch IAS officer, in power department and at both the state power corporations.Garg has been posted as administrative secretary, industries and commerce, with additional charges as administrative secretary, investment promotion, and administrative secretary, promotion of information technology industry. Gurkirat previously held these additional charges.The change at PSPCL and PSTCL comes as the utilities manage peak seasonal load requirements and opposition targeting the govt over power cuts affecting industrial, domestic and agricultural sectors. The fuel management for thermal plants and balancing the tariff subsidy mechanism with fiscal stabilisation were among the other challenges being faced by Garg, who had held charge of power department and the CMD posts since late 2025. In May, PSPCL drew public and administrative attention after central enforcement agencies sought records on the procedural return of a high-value bank guarantee to an entity linked to a former state cabinet minister.Gurkirat has previously headed home affairs, information and public relations, and tourism departments.
