While the Uttarakhand Government is claiming to be focused on developing Horticulture in the State, transfer of six district horticulture officers posted in Pauri district in just 11 months since September 16, 2014 due to the interference from the Minister concerned has sent a wrong message. The refrain runs that things look gloomy and unless the Minister is stopped from interfering in the functioning of the department there is little likelihood that things would look up.
After Jai Dev Singh, the district horticulture officer, was transferred on September 15 2014 the deputy director horticulture department Indra Pal Singh Kushwaha took the additional charge of D H O the same day and remained till January 16. J l Makhanwal took over as DHO the same day as in- charge officer and served the post till February 6. D S Bisht took the charge the same day as the officer in-charge and remained till April 30. Then came Jl Makhanwal who remained in the post till June 22 - the day the commissioned Taj Pal Singh assumed charge as DHO. Narendra Kumar, DHO, Bageshwar was transferred to Tehri and then to Pauri district. However, as the then D H O refused to hand over charge to the new appointee both started working in the same post. The logjam ended on 25 July when Narendra Kumar took charge from the deputy director Horticulture.
“Transfer is a routine process. However, transfers happening this clumsy way in the top post of the district department is bound to impact negatively on its functioning. Political interference must stop to keep things going,” opined an observer.