Bhubaneswar: In the recent Collectors’ meeting here on September 27, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that no more the highhandedness of coterie officials would be tolerated and no ‘Gadimaada Babus’(Long time serving officer) can stay in the same post for more than four years. Transparency and good governance would be the main motto of his government.
Before coming to power in Odisha, the BJP had repeatedly targeted the ruling BJD government and said that it was run by a powerful coterie of officials and public representatives who have lost their relevance. Corruption and nepotism were rampant and even some bureaucrats had become so powerful that their political masters had to play second fiddle to them, alleged the BJP.
Mohan Majhi Warns Against ‘Gadimaada Babus’ in Governance
However, after coming to power, the Mohan Majhi-led BJP government has carried out a major reshuffle in the IPS cadre. Some IAS officials have been in the meantime transferred and posted.
But the departmental heads of a few departments like Works, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Food and Civil Supplies, Excise, Rural Development and Information and Public Relations which were plagued by massive graft worth crores of rupees, irregularities and project delays have surprisingly not come under the scanner of the State Government for unknown reasons. These tainted officials continue to hold multiple responsibilities of important department and have been clinging to their chairs for years. Leave alone action, they have not been shunted out from the aforesaid departments. These has raised many questions.
A glaring example is Works and Food and Civil Supplies Secretary Vir Vikram Jadav (IAS). Notably, during VV Yadav’s tenure many problems plagued the paddy procurement at Mandis in the State which triggered deep resentment among the farmers. The farmers alleged that the Civil Supplies Department officials had a nexus with the millers due to which Katni and Chhatni had become routine. Gadimaada Babu
Works and Civil Supplies Secretary VV Yadav Under Fire for Corruption
In the Works Department, under Yadav there were allegations of corruption of crores of rupees in different important infrastructure projects. Many inefficient Chief Engineers, Superintendent Engineers and Executive Engineers were posted in important positions and a blind-eye was turned to their corrupt activities. no more Gadimaada Babu.
Udanti Bridge Collapse Sparks Concerns
For example, Balangir Chief Construction Engineer Basistha Patnaik is yet to be held responsible for the Udanti Bridge collapse on the Biju Expressway in Nuapada district. The collapsed bridges, which are the lifeline for Western Odisha people have severely affected road communications. But the bridges are yet to be repaired or restored. But surprisingly Basistha Patnaik has been awarded and posted as Chief Engineer Road-I. This has raised many questions on the role of the Works Secretary in the entire incident. Recently, even the Orissa High Court had pulled up the Works Department for the bad condition of roads in Silver City Cuttack and given a deadline to repair it. Gadimaada Babu
Similarly, Similarly, under Sushil Lohani most of the mega drinking water projects meant to supply water to the rural households have miserably failed or have become defunct. Lohani who also leads the Excise Department has suffered loss of Excise duty worth crores due to some corrupt and negligent officials.
Besides, Sanjay Singh who is in charge of the Rural Development, has failed to improve the ramshackle condition of roads, bridges and other infrastructure though the government has spent crores of rupees for construction of these projects.
It is also alleged that he has mismanaged the media during the visit of VVIPs to the State. During the recent Prime Minister’s, the media personnel were up in arms due to his misbehavior and highhandedness with them. Besides, he has also been alleged mismanaged fund worth crores in awarding advertisements to media organization before the general elections.