Arunachal CM urges PWD engineers to work in a transparent manner

Last Updated: September 16, 2019

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Arunachal CM urges PWD engineers to work in a transparent manner

Arunachal CM urges PWD engineers- “Be bold. Avoid working closed-doors, work in a transparent manner. Be honest in your dealings. Go by the rules. Nobody will dare to intervene or interfere in discharge of your duties,”.

Itanagar

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today called for courage, determination and sincerity on part of engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) to thwart interventions by people in power and usher quality of works being executed by the department.

“Be bold. Avoid working closed-doors, work in a transparent manner. Be honest in your dealings. Go by the rules. Nobody will dare to intervene or interfere in discharge of your duties,” he said while chairing a day-long review meeting of the department here at the State Banquet Hall. He was hinting at reported interferences by political leaders in tendering processes of the department.

This is the first review meeting of the department by Khandu, who is also the Minister in-Charge of PWD.

The Chief Minister categorically stressed that the work culture of the departmental officials, particularly of the engineers, must change for good. Every engineer from the junior level to the top must be aware and responsible for all projects under their jurisdiction.

“The Superintendent Engineers (SEs) and Executive Engineers (EEs) should be personally up-to-date with the status of each and every project – big or small. They must physically visit each work site regularly, which will not only help in monitoring the progress and maintaining quality but also encourage junior level officials to discharge their duties honestly and sincerely,” he advised while adding it will also ensure timely completion of projects.

He blamed decline in work-culture on involvement of officers in petty politics, which results in juniors getting appointed to higher posts on officiating basis, which in turn disheartens the sincere ones.

“We are committed to discard this practice, conduct regular DPCs and re-instil discipline in the department,” he assured.

Citing the role of PWD as the most significant amongst all work departments, Khandu said the department has the onerous responsibility of surging the state ahead on the path of infrastructural development.

He said the responsibility of the in-service engineers of the current generation is all the more as majority of them are locals of the state.

“We as locals of the state have to think and work for the development of our state and welfare of our future generation. If we don’t, who will?” he questioned and urged, “Use your power and position when you got it. Or else you will regret after you retire!”

The Chief Minister, along with Commissioner PWD Belatee Pertin and Secretary W Y Ringu, minutely went through the presentations made by the concerned SEs of each circle. Status of all projects under schemes like CRF, RIDF, NLCPR, NESIDES, BADP, SADA, SIDF, NEC, ISC, BE, RUSA and budget announcements were discussed in detail.

Khandu expressed concern on delay in completion, failure to float tender and non-submission of utilization certificates of various important projects. He specifically sought status of sick projects like the Tamen to Tali, Tamen to Dollungmukh, ziro-point to Tali in Kra Dadi district, etc and called for early solution to the hurdles.

On taking the status of 4-laning of the capital road, he was told that the work is not progressing at the required pace and therefore, the department proposes to have a final meeting with the contractor by October end and decide further action.

The Highway Division of PWD informed that tenders have been floated for the Potin to Pangin Trans Arunachal Highway, which has been sanctioned in 9 packages by MoRTH. While expression of interest to make DPR of the 2259 km Frontier Highway – Dirang to Vijoynagar – has already been invited by MoRTH, proposal for the East-West Corridor (1046.80 km) under the Bharatmala scheme of the Center has been submitted to MoRTH for approval.

Few issues like taking over of PWD roads by RWD under PMGSY was also raised, to which the Chief Minister directed the concerned EEs to urgently submit the details for the government to find a solution. To the issue of delay in release of funds, he assured that the government is bringing reforms for ease of work and it is one of the main concerns. Other departmental issues like shortage of manpower, both technical and non-technical, lack of office buildings, etc were also highlighted to the Chief Minister.

Expressing his disagreement to the existence of engineering wings in non-engineering departments like Tourism, Education, Sports, etc, the Chief Minister informed that the government is committed to dissolve all such wings. He informed that despite a Cabinet decision in this regard, the engineering wings are still in existence due to some technical issues, which, he said, is being taken care.

He was of the opinion that the executive engineer, who heads such wings, cannot be competent officially enough to successfully oversee work projects of the concerned non-engineering department in entire Arunachal Pradesh.

“We have started the process and the engineering wing of the Tourism department will be the first in line,” he said.

Khandu, however, assured that all in-service engineers and officials of such wings will be taken care of by the government. Those who are on deputation will be restored to their parent departments and others will be adjusted in various departments as per eligibility, seniority and feasibility, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Engineer (SIDP & P), Dr Atop Lego explained in detail provisions of the Arunachal Pradesh State Road (Regulation and Development) Act, 2015 besides highlighting the objectives of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Road Development and Building Infrastructure Development Plan 2019-24.

Dr Lego informed that the Plan envisages to prioritize construction/repairing of state capital roads (108 kms), district headquarter roads (300 kms), ADC/SDO headquarter roads (300 kms), EAC/CO headquarter roads (900 kms) and state highways (400 kms) by the year 2024. He also said that all projects under CRF, RIDF, NESIDES, etc will be channelized to this Plan.

All Chief Engineers, Superintendent Engineers and Executive Engineers of the department were present in the review meeting.