Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 25: The Jal Shakti Department (PHE) today suspended two employees in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, including one who allegedly made a hole in the main supply line to illegally divert water to his relatives’ vegetable garden, and initiated an inquiry into their misconduct.
Executive Engineer Aijaz Ahmad of Baramulla issued two separate suspension orders against the erring employees pending an inquiry. The order issued against Mohd Yagoob Khan Mangral, a helper at the PHE Sub Division Baramulla currently posted at the Delina Water Supply Scheme, stated that pending an inquiry into his conduct, he is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Additionally, a fine of Rs. 50,000 (Rs. fifty thousand) will be imposed on Mangral, subject to verification by a committee. The suspension was ordered for his actions in making a hole in the main supply line to divert water to the fields of his relatives and affecting the water distribution to other residents.
The second order was issued against Mohd Shaf Gojer, an assistant lineman at the PHE Sub Division Watergam, currently posted at the Rohama Water Supply Scheme. It stated that,” pending an inquiry into his conduct, he is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect due to his failure to perform his duties punctually.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Executive Engineer Imtiyaz Ahmad of PHE Sub Division Baramulla and Engineer, Mudasir Nayeem Rather of PHE Sub Division Pattan, have been issued show-cause notices for failing to adequately address the water crisis in their jurisdictions. The notices highlighted that, despite repeated warnings and directives, the water crisis has not been properly managed, leading to severe water scarcity and public protests.
“These protests have resulted in the national highway being blocked on two occasions, causing significant inconvenience. Higher authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla, have expressed immense displeasure with their lackadaisical approach,” the notice reads.
In light of these issues, both officials were directed to explain their positions within two days as to why action under the J&K Government Employee (Conduct Rules) of 1971 should not be taken against them.
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