Bureaucracy Inherited from BJD Remains Unchanged in Mohan Sarkar

Bhubaneswar: The BJP and its leaders before coming to power in Odisha were repeatedly harping that bureaucrats were ruling the roost in the State during the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government’s tenure and some officials were posted for years in the same position due to their closeness to the power centers.

After coming to power in Odisha, it was expected that the BJP government would carry out massive reshuffles in the IAS and IPS Cadre and all tainted and controversial officers would be shunted out to improve governance and curb corruption in the State. But though the Mohan Sarkar has completed than 100 days in the State, some highly controversial officers have surprisingly managed to cling to their chairs though the State Government has carried out a number of reshuffles.

Tainted IAS Trio

In the last reshuffle carried out on August 24 as many as 13 IAS Officers were transferred and given new postings. But Works and Food and Civil Supplies Secretary Vir Vikram Jadav (IAS), Excise and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Secretary Sushil Lohani (IAS), Rural Development and Information and Public Relations Secretary Sanjay Singh(IAS) have managed to retain their positions despite their dubious track record. This has led to the inefficient functioning of these departments.

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 rampant Katni and Chhatni.

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.

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.

In State Capital Bhubaneswar most of the SEs of Divisions 1, II and III are not most of time present in their respective offices. Notably, under Division I jurisdication under which the State Secretariat Assembly and other important institutions are present, the SE is not present in office for the last two years. But the Secretary is yet to take any action as these SEs are patronized by him. Due to this the functioning of the department has been severely affected.

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 misbehaviour and highhandedness with them. Besides, he has also been alleged of misutilising his position to give advertisement and allotting funds to different media organisations worth Rs 500 crore in three months, which has been informed by the Chief Minister in the State Assembly.

But unfortunately, the Tainted IAS Trio are still continuing in their old posts. The intelligentsia have demanded the Governor and the Chief Minister to order a probe into their omissions and commissions and take suitable action for good governance.