Koti’s Jal Shakti Department is facing a shortage of staff

The responsibility of 80 drinking water and irrigation schemes rests on the shoulders of only one JE

The Koti subdivision office of the Jal Shakti Department, which provides drinking water to the general public, has been grappling with a staff shortage for quite some time. Sixteen posts in various categories, including that of a junior engineer, are vacant within this subdivision. It should be noted that while this subdivision borders the Rajgarh subdivision of Sirmaur district, it also shares borders with Theog and Bhekhalti, meaning the entire subdivision spans approximately 60 to 70 kilometers. This subdivision encompasses a total of 18 gram panchayats, six of which are in the Theog block.
It should be noted that currently, more than 80 drinking water and irrigation schemes are operational in these 18 panchayats under the Koti Jal Shakti Vibhag, whose responsibility rests on the shoulders of only one junior engineer. The situation is such that only one JE is working in four sections under the Koti sub-division, meaning three junior engineer posts are vacant. It should be noted that until a month ago, Sunil Bhikta, the JE of the Koti sub-division, was in charge of a total of seven sections, including three sections from the Kasupanti sub-division.
The post of Assistant Engineer in this subdivision had been vacant for nearly six months, and a new Assistant Engineer took over two days ago. Additionally, the positions of Surveyor, Work Inspector, Fitter, Pump Operator, and Senior Assistant and Junior Assistant in the clerical staff are also vacant. The pump operator’s duties are being handled by peons.
Many intellectuals in the Junga region say that the Koti Water Power Department is running at a loss. They say that due to political pressure, many gram panchayats in the Junga tehsil have deployed more water guards than necessary. Some of these water guards have no assigned work and are being paid honorariums without performing any tasks. The department has not adopted a rationalization policy for this.
When senior officials of the department were contacted about this matter, they all responded in the same way: details of vacant positions are sent to the government every month, and filling vacant positions is within the government’s exclusive jurisdiction.