The erstwhile Rourkela Municipality was upgraded to a Municipal Corporation on November 14, 2014 and the Union Urban Department enlisted it in Smart City list on September 20, 2016. But still the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) has been reeling under heavy staff crunch. That is why not only this city stood in 168th position in Swachha Survekshyan but also many development works are either held up or delayed.
After getting up-gradation to the RMC and status of Smart City, the Government should provide more number of staffs for the smooth running of office and achieve the goal of Smart City. But the sorry state of affair is that the RMC does not have the minimum required staff strength.
In an UlB, the sanitation is most important job to keep the city clean to let the people live in a hygienic condition. But in the RMC, only 388 employees are engaged in sanitation department, where as the number required is 979. That is why the RMC is able to score only 422.55 marks out of 900 in sanitation and other cleaning activities in Swachha Survekshyan. Similarly, out of four deputy commissioner posts, three are lying vacant. As the election is not conducted in the RMC since last three and a half years, the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are also lying vacant. That is why, the ADM, Rourkela, has been officiating as Administrator in addition to her original assignment as the ADM, Rourkela and Secretary, RDA. Interestingly a month back, she was also appointed as the CEO of Smart City limited.
Besides the posts of Assistant Secretary, Town Assistant Engineer, Slum Development Officer, law Officer, Recovery Officer are lying vacant. Similarly, junior engineer (civil) is managing the things where as 12 are required. Two junior engineers (electrical) are also lying vacant. Besides out of 17 senior assistants, 12 are lying vacant, out of 23 junior assistants only five are engaged. So as on date, while 512 posts including 14 sanitary inspectors, 454 sweepers, 34 sweeper jamadar and 10 sweeper supervisors are lying vacant in sanitation departments, 71 posts are lying vacant in other departments. Even the only sanctioned sanitary expert post is also lying vacant. So it could be well assessed how the UlB providing service to the people. If the posts are not filled up on urgent basis, then in coming years, the RMC will face difficulty in getting better rank in Swachh Sarvekshan. Besides, it is the need of the hour to conduct the election in the RMC soon.