SRINAGAR While being a vital department to provide better sanitation facilities, the additional charge syndrome has been affecting the working of Housing and Urban Local Bodies Department.
A source in the department said that department is in complete mess as the additional charge syndrome collapsed the work of dozens of municipalities in Kashmir valley.
More than five executive officers hold additional charges of various municipalities. Those executive officers who hold additional charges of various Municipalities are Javaid Mir-Municipal Committee Frisal and Yaripora, Gh Rasool Shah-Municipal Committee Pattan and Hajin, Ab. Rashid Vaid-Mattan and Aishmuqam, Shabir Wani-Municipal Council Anantnag and Dooru and Anees Chowdhary-Tangmarg and Gulmarg, the source said.
“The irony is people at the helm in Governors office to Directorate of Urban Local Bodies are not bothered to look into these issues which are causing difficulties at different levels for the people living in these areas,” the source said.
Insiders said that former Director Urban Local Bodies, Tufail Matoo tried to streamline and overhaul department but was transferred after few months to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as Director.
Sources said that few non performing executive officers and officials have given wrong name to the department.
They said there are many executive officers who have engaged their kith and kins and also many non deserving candidates who have greased their palms are presently working in the department as class fourth employees and clerks.
This wrong by some executive officers, secretaries and other officials have put department on the back foot.
The working in Municipal committees across Kashmir has taken a big hit due to illegal engagements of casuals with sources saying this exercise has become money minting machine for the executive officers.
The enquiry committee was also framed by Government to enquire who are the people who were responsible for the illegal appointments and misappropriation of funds.
However no action was initiated by the government against these officers and officials.
Sources say that in the name of sanitation huge money was being looted by the officials working in sanitation sections.
People at the helm have given deaf ear to the complaints made by civil society against these officials. The irony is these officials are misusing their positions and have become firmly grounded with executive officers reluctant to initiate action against sanitation officials as it seems a complete nexus between executive officers and sanitation officials, sources said.
Need of the hour is to overhaul the department at all levels in the larger interest of people.
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