Ranchi, May 10: Damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t. Warned by the central government to restructure the state electricity board without further delay, and warned by the board employees to do no such thing, the government has been buying time all these months, delaying the inevitable.

But some rude warning from the central government appears to have prompted the government to give an undertaking that the much-awaited trifurcation or unbundling of the electricity board would take place by the end of June.

It will not seek another extension to the June 30 deadline, the state government has indicated to the Centre. With the energy sector in a complete mess, the Centre is alarmed at no change in the transmission and distribution losses of the board. Nor has there been any improvement in the board’s generating capacity or its losses due to power-theft.

The energy department confirmed that final touches are being given to the unbundling. As a first step, the government’s approval is being sought for appointing four directors to head the different companies.

The central government, confirmed energy department sources, has threatened to stop all central assistance to the power sector, if there is any further delay.

The state has already sought and received as many as 10 extensions over the deadlines it agreed to from time to time. It is unlikely to receive another extension and if the central government actually stops releasing grants, the energy sector in the state could collapse altogether.

Faced with the tough stand of the central government, the state government appears to have given in finally. The employees’ unions have been opposing the unbundling , threatening to strike work if the government goes ahead with the unbundling. It remains to be seen how the state government manages the situation.

Convener of the JSEB engineers and workers’ co-ordination committee, M.P. Yadav, wants the state government to address the committee’s demands first.

The foremost demand is that JSEB should first settle the division of its assets and liabilities with the parent body of Bihar State Electricity Board. Otherwise, Yadav said, JSEB employees will be forced to run to Patna to get their retirement benefits.