Of late, the Odisha Works Department (OWD) which has the responsibility of construction, repair and maintenance of buildings, roads, bridges, highways and other related structures, is in a limbo thanks to an IAS officer being posted as Secretary of the engineering department. Though the norms say the OWD is nominally headed by a position of Engineer-in-Chief or EIC-cum-Secretary who reports to the Minister of Works.
As “Engineer-in-Chief”, this position holds technical responsibility; and as “Secretary”, it exercises administrative control of the department. But as the present Works Secretary is not an engineer and lacks technical expertise, there is absolutely no coordination and transparency in the department.
Earlier also, there were some instances of persons with engineering background being appointed as EIC-cum-Secretary by the Government’s Cabinet decision. Like AC Padhi (1974 to 81), Architect AK Biswal was shunted out in 1990 and in his place SP Gantayat was appointed. IAS Arabinda Behera (2003-04) was given the additional charge of Works Secretary with approval of the Cabinet.
Later, the Government appointed Nalini Kanta Pradhan as Chief Engineer superseding 22 engineers. He was also given additional one-year extension. But the Government drew flak when there were many financial irregularities like price escalation, poor quality work, delay in project completion and bride collapse. So, the Government appointed an IAS Officer to streamline the functioning of the department.
But though present, Works Secretary Kishan Kumar, has a good track record and is highly efficient, due to lack of technical knowledge and multiple responsibilities he has found it difficult to improve the functioning of the department.
So it is no surprise that most of the projects executed by OWD have been either stalled or moving at a snail’s pace. There are lot of deviations in utilisation of funds. Taking advantage of the Secretary’s lack of technical expertise, contractors are executing works worth crores of rupees on verbal assurance and there is absolutely no transparency.
It is alleged that taking advantage of it some unscrupulous officials are also fixing tenders. The Chief Engineer (Roads) is alleged to be promoting nepotism and awarding contracts to people with dubious background.
Besides, there is lot of delay in getting forest clearances for projects.
This has led to dissatisfaction among most of the engineers. They feel that they are paying for the sins of former Engineer-in-Chief and Works Secretary Pradhan.
The engineers opined that as per the Supreme Court’s order to appoint a permanent administrator for the Jagannath Temple, Kumar cannot function as full time SJTA Chief Administrator and the Works Secretary and do justice to both responsibilities.
The service engineer association is demanding to appoint an engineer with good track record as EIC to improve the functioning of OWD.