Even though many parts of city still continue to be plagued by drinking water woes, massive corruption, nepotism and political interference have hampered an effective functioning of the Public Health Department (PHD) much to the chagrin of city residents.
To make the matters worse, some officials who have been posted in the same post for years or are holding additional charges, thanks to their political godfathers, have slowed down the implementation of various pilot projects being implemented by the various divisions of the PHD in the city.
Take for instance, the PH Department Division I Deputy Executive Engineer Guru Das, who is in charge of Samantrapur Sub-Division is also holding additional charge of the PH Division II in Vani Vihar.
Recently, an engineer was posted as the Executive Engineer of Division –II, but Das managed to get the order cancelled allegedly with the help of his political links. Sources said Das has been holding multiple responsibilities not because of his efficiency but due to his closeness to local Ekamra MLA and Minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
Similar is the case of Assistant Engineer NC Sahoo posted in the Samantrapur PH Sub-Division, who has been in the same post for the last 10 years.
PH Division III Executive Engineer PK Swain, who was promoted to the Superintendent Engineer post is also having the additional charge of Executive Engineer post , which has been vacant for the last three months.
It is no surprise that BJB Nagar, Rental Colony and particularly Old Town and Bhima Tangi areas suffer from acute drinking water shortage.
However, due to the political clout they enjoy, the PH higher authorities including the Urban Development Minister are reluctant to touch these officials through many irregularities including financial bunglings continued to be rampant in the aforesaid divisions.