Anantnag, June 01: Jammu and Kashmir has become an ideal place for shrinking responsibilities. Given the dual control – LG and CM administration, bureaucrats are having a field day. Responsibilities could be tossed from here to there and vice versa.
Take the example of the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings – R&B) in South Kashmir, which is facing a severe administrative crisis, with key positions, including that of Chief Engineer and Superintendent Engineer, lying vacant for several months. The zonal office of the Chief Engineer, located at Dak Bungalow Khanabal, Anantnag, has been without a permanent head, bringing administrative functioning to a standstill and halting progress on several ongoing and proposed development projects.
According to reliable sources, the department has witnessed the transfer or retirement of nearly six Chief Engineers over the past one and a half years, leading to a lack of continuity and sustainable leadership. The situation is further worsened by the appointment of officers who are nearing retirement, leaving them with little time to initiate or complete any meaningful development work. This has adversely impacted both the department’s efficiency and public welfare. Sources said.
It is worth noting that on August 19, 2023, under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, several sub-departments were merged into the Public Works Department (R&B), and separate Chief Engineers were appointed for North, Central and, South Kashmir to decentralize the workload. While the move was widely welcomed, its implementation in South Kashmir has remained ineffective. Either officers were posted for brief durations or the posts remained vacant for extended periods, sources said.
The sources further said that the current state of the department is alarming, with not only the post of Chief Engineer lying vacant but also crucial positions like Superintendent Engineer and Executive Engineer unfilled. This has caused widespread disruption, affecting contractors, common citizens, and even departmental staff who are struggling with various administrative and technical issues.
The sources and ground reports suggest that numerous developmental projects intended for public welfare have either come to a halt or are progressing at a snail’s pace.
Meanwhile, the contractors and public representatives have raised serious concerns and have appealed to the Chief Minister, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, the Chief Secretary, and senior officials of the Public Works Department to urgently appoint a permanent Chief Engineer for South Kashmir. They have also emphasized that the officer should be given a minimum two-year tenure to ensure continuity and effective implementation of development initiatives.
