While the Government of Odisha and all its components are shouting themselves hoarse about 5T and how it is transforming the state to Utopia the Works department is quietly and steadily acting to prove it wrong. The first casualty of the operations of the department is Transparency and Teamwork, two major components of 5T.
Recently it has been reported how the questionable activities and decisions of the Manoranjan Mishra, the EIC of the department, have put the Multipurpose Hall project of the sports department in such a sorry position that the government is afraid to even inaugurate the structures and allow the public to use it. Now it has come to light that the Assistant Executive Engineer of Bhubaneswar ( R&B) Subdivision no II was issued a show cause notice by his Executive Engineer for taking up a work without a proper tender and without any approval. Insiders in the department have hinted that the Assistant Engineer has done it with the blessings of the EIC himself who is also holding the responsibility of the Chief Engineer ( Roads).
How qualified and experienced engineers are being posted and shunted around in the department defies logic. Despite a committee that was formed in April 2023 to recommend transfers and postings that responsibility seems to be in the hands of the EIC himself. Nothing else explains the situation where the EIC is holding the role of chief Engineer ( Roads) as an additional charge while many Chief Engineers are wasting their talent in posts having marginal responsibilities. Observers wonder whether the Government is aware that the fungus of incompetence and inefficiency is spreading fast and deep in the department.
Recently a few additional chief engineers were promoted to the post of Chief Engineers. It is interesting to note that they are still handling their pre-promotion responsibilities while the post of chief engineer in many important positions is lying vacant and is being managed by the EIC himself.
There is strong suspicion that the promotions and postings have not been reported to the office of the chief minister or the Chief Secretary. This in itself is a major violation of procedure but it is quite baffling to notice the way the EIC is flouting all operational norms and is still getting away with highly questionable decisions. The secretary of the department is focused on tours to Delhi for reasons that are not difficult to guess and so it appears he does not have time or inclination to check the mischiefs of the EIC .
But observers wonder as to why the Chief Minister is allowing a key department to get corroded despite petitions submitted to him with facts. Many are questioning whether the office of the Chief Minister of Odisha is functioning at all!!