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| Srinagar aghast over frequent water logging | | `Incompetent' engineer heads city drainage | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 23: Even as frequent water logging has become a nuisance for Srinagar, the state government continues to let an "influential" engineer work as the head of Srinagar's drainage though his promotion was "illegal and he happens to be technically misfit for the key post."
Despite massive inundation of Srinagar areas and subsequent protests today, the government hinted that the "influential" official would not be touched.
In October last year, Ishtiaq Ahmed was elevated to the post of Superintending Engineer Town Drainage, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). The official who was working as Executive Engineer in the SMC was given undue "promotion" vide No 522 of 2014 dated October 29, 2014 at a time when the Model Code of Conduct was in force for Assembly elections.
Official sources said the "promotion orders were issued following hectic consultations between the SMC and some officials in the Housing Department while huge kickbacks worth millions were involved in the deal."
"Some Babus were keen to promote this particular Xen even though he has failed in timely execution of prestigious projects including construction of Corporate House at SMC head office," sources said.
Insiders said Ishtiaq's postings and works allotted to him have often been about "favoritism and political interventions as he keeps the politicians happy."
"Corporate House construction work worth Rs five crores was allotted to him out of the way as the construction site doesn't fall in his area of jurisdiction… And that work is still incomplete for four years," insiders said.
Otherwise also sources said this engineer was misfit to be SE drainage as the post belongs to Hydraulics section of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. "It is like Kar-e-Najar, Badaste Gilkar… Even though several competent and meritorious engineers in Hydraulics were eligible for this promotion, favoritism worked as usual," said a senior member of the Graduate Engineers Association. "He is not experienced to hold such a post in drainage, because he is not from this field of engineering."
Sources said Ishtiaq's elevation as SE was managed cleverly by the previous regime. "The SE from Irrigation and Flood Control Department who was working in SMC drainage was transferred by the previous NC regime only to leave the post vacant so that it was subsequently filled by internal adjustment to meet their interests," the sources said.
They said that time Ishtiaq was close to the then ruling NC and thus despite a hue and cry he was allowed to continue as SE drainage.
Finally, the eligible engineers, who had opposed the move, banked on the PDP-BJP government, which was blowing trumpet of running a "clean government." But as this new coalition came to power, there came another twist.
Initially, the SMC Commissioner Tufail Mattu signaled that Ishtiaq would be replaced with "competent engineer experienced in drainage work as the City was facing frequent flood threats". But subsequently Mattu is understood to have preferred silence over the issue for reasons known best to him.
Thereafter, a PDP Minister and a junior minister, both of whom represent Srinagar constituencies started admitting that Ishtiaq's promotion was illegal and detrimental for the development of the City. But after a few weeks, this engineer was seen rubbing shoulders with them. For now he is often a part of their city tours and seems to be having cordial relations with them. Ishtiaq not only heads the Srinagar drainage but has also been given a "lion's share" of developmental funds worth over Rs 30 crores for execution of various drainage projects in the City.
Sources said the matter was brought into the notice of Deputy Chief Minster Dr Nirmal Singh who also happens to be Housing Minister. But he couldn't seemingly act. "Basically Dr Singh avoided to confront his colleagues from PDP who were supporting this influential engineer… You can't be at loggerheads with your colleagues all the times," said Dr Singh's colleague, asking not to be identified. But Ishtiaq denies to be enjoying political patronage, though it seemingly favoured him from previous to present regime. "I am fit for this job," the civil engineer said. The SMC Commissioner Tufail Mattu on the other hand prefers silence over the issue. Today when some old city houses in Rajouri Kadal , Shiraz Chowk and adjoining areas here were damaged as rain waters gushed into the congested localities, the people took to streets. But Mattu has no replies to public woes as to what causes the failure again and again. Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department declined to comment on this issue. Despite repeated attempts Dr Nirmal Singh could not be contacted for comments. |
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