Engg cadre faces worst ever stagnation in State
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 18: The Engineering cadre in the J&K state under Governor’s rule is facing worst kind of stagnation as at least 32 posts of Chief Engineers (CEs) and Superintending Engineers (SEs) cadre are lying vacant in the PW (R&B), PHE Irrigation and Flood Control Department while some ‘top officers’ are sitting on the files.
Not only the top posts in the Engineering cadre, but at least 130 posts of Executive Engineers and Assistant Executive Engineering cadre are also lying vacant in these departments, of which nearly 70 posts are falling vacant in just PHE, I&FC Department.
Official sources said that the chronic adhocism galore in the J&K’ Engineering departments immensely, affecting many development/ infrastructure related projects. During last three-four months, several posts of Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers fell vacant with the retirement of several officers, but a few top officers at the helm of affairs are causing unnecessary delay in filling up these posts due to some vested interests to accommodate their ‘blue eyed’ people who figure at lower rank in the promotion/ seniority list.
Their such attitude has caused a big set back to the ongoing infrastructure building projects in the State. Many Engineering wings are lying headless and the subordinate staff is facing lot of problems, specially while taking important decisions related to execution of ongoing projects. Some of the posts are being manned by giving additional charge to the other officers. But this adhoc approach of the Administration has affected the growth and development in the State.
Sources revealed that, interestingly, even after taking over the charge of the R&B department by a dynamic senior officer recently, the things are not moving with the desired pace in the R&B department. It has been learnt that the issue of quota verses non-quota within the department has also been one of the reasons behind the delay, besides showering favours on a few ‘blue eyed’ engineers who figure at lower place in the seniority list.
Many category engineers, who have not been confirmed even as AEEs, have reached to the position of SEs. That issue is also being deliberated at the top level. Hardly few days ago, the Administrative department sought Vigilance clearance and APRs of 12 senior most Executive Engineers of the R&B department, indicating that some exercise has been taken up in this regard, but the proposal of the two senior most SEs for the clearance as CEs was turned down by the concerned Advisor to the Governor hardly few days for want of Vigilance clearance. It was said to be the deliberate attempt of some insiders, keeping deficiency in the file before clearance.
Giving more details, the sources said that in R&B department three posts of Chief Engineers in SKUAST-Jammu; Design Inspection and Quality Control wing and CVPPC are lying vacant while fourth post of Chief Engineer PMGSY Jammu is going to fall vacant by the end of this month with the retirement of SP Manhas. After the retirement of SR Dogra (CE) from SKUAST- Jammu and Ravinder Kumar(CE) from CVPPC, two months ago, no new officer was placed as Chief Engineer there. The Design, Inspection and Quality Control Wing of the Public Works department is also lying headless. At present, at least seven posts of SEs (R&B) are also lying vacant in the State, for which the officers at the helm of affairs have yet to start an exercise.
Sources further said that condition is more pitiable in PHE, I&FC where six posts of Chief Engineers level are lying vacant in PDC and 11 posts of CE/SE (Hyd) level in Chenab Valley Power Project Corporation for the last several months. Not only this, the post of Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu, Chief Engineer/ ED in CCDU , CE RTIC, CE RTIC , CE ERA Project-II besides Design Directorate are also lying vacant for the last several months. During September the Governor’s Administration attached Chief Engineer UEED, J&K after registration of a Vigilance case against him. The departments main task is to plan, design and initiate works of sewerage and drainage in urban areas of the State. But till date the Government has not filled up this post as well.
Commissioner/ Secretary PW (R&B), Khursheed Shah when contacted said that an exercise has been initiated for filling up these vacant posts in his department. He admitted that there was some delay in the new placements but he maintained that this exercise will be completed before Darbar move. When asked about any pressure on him from some quarters to accommodate some favourites, he denied and said during Governor’s rule who will dare it and more over, he has sought Vigilance clearance, APRs etc of some senior engineers in this regard. It will happen soon, Shah maintained.
Farooq Ahmed Shah, Commissioner/ Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department when contacted said that he was well aware of the matter. Shah said there were some court related disputes and a few other issues which were being deliberated upon with the top level officers. Now, those issues stand resolved.
When asked about worst condition in PDC and CVPPC where over 70 % posts are lying vacant, Shah said since the process has been set in motion, accordingly, these posts will also be filled up. At many places, the posts of even Executive Engineers are lying vacant. The promotions and placements will be done simultaneously, he said.
“The files have been at submission level now and the process is under way. We are hopeful to complete the process and fill up all the vacant posts shortly. Hopefully, we are doing it before the Darbar move,” Farooq added.
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