Hyderabad: Even before the newly formed Telangana Rythu Power Distribution Company Limited (TGRPDCL) has become fully operational, it is already grappling with internal resistance and logistical complications. At the centre of the tension lies the deputation of staff.A section of employees from the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL), assigned to the new discom, has shown reluctance to relocate, preferring instead to continue in their existing roles. This hesitation has also sparked friction between personnel of the two discoms, particularly over seating arrangements and office space. The state govt has directed the Rythu discom to function from the southern discom’s corporate office at Mint Compound, further intensifying the strain.The govt carved out the Rythu discom, effective April 1, with a focused mandate to manage power subsidy schemes. These include agricultural connections, lift irrigation, and water supply projects such as Mission Bhagiratha and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. In preparation for its launch, both the southern and northern (TGNPDCL) discoms were instructed to depute staff to the new entity.While 12 employees from the northern discom joined without issue, resistance has largely emerged from the southern discom. Of the 39 engineers and staff members allocated from it, only 20 had reported by April 1, despite being given a two-week window. Among those who reported, just 10 were engineers, with the rest drawn from other departments.Officials indicate that many engineers from the southern discom are unwilling to shift, as they prefer field-level operations linked to general consumers. Sources further noted that the Rythu discom’s chairman and managing director had specifically requested officers across key divisions—operations, human resources, accounts, and information technology—particularly from the southern discom’s corporate office. These roles are crucial for tasks such as asset and liability bifurcation, division of power purchase agreements, and network sharing.Concerns extend beyond individual reluctance. Some senior officials, including those at the director level within the southern discom, are reportedly unwilling to release officers working under them. As one chief engineer observed, most of the officers who have joined so far are from district postings and lack experience in corporate structuring. “Even some director cadre officers of southern discom do not want to release officers working under them. Most of the officers who have joined so far are from district postings and lack experience in corporate structuring,” a chief engineer told TOI.Compounding the issue is a significant shortage of space. Despite 42 per cent of power connections being transferred to the new discom, it continues to operate from the same corporate office, resulting in overcrowding. At present, the CMD is functioning from the fifth floor of B Block.The cramped conditions have already led to conflict. In some cases, deputed officers have been asked to continue working from their existing desks, creating further friction between employees of the two organisations. One official pointed out that a dispute recently broke out between a chief general manager and a general manager over seating arrangements on the third floor of B Block. “How can 40 staff members function from a single floor of barely 2,000 square feet?” the official remarked.Southern discom CMD Jitesh V Patil did not respond when TOI tried to reach him.
