By Nasir Khuihami
Bandipora: Junior Engineer of Public Health Engineering (Hydraulic) was put under suspension on Monday for failing to safeguard the public Services infrastructure.
The 6 inches diameters pipeline of Haptnar Water Supply scheme was damaged earlier this month after a local Sarpanch Farooq Ahmad had illegally deployed a mechanical excavator (JCB) to fill his house premises and damaged the pipeline in the process.
The damage to the pipeline caused water crisis in Quil Muqam village. The locals brought it to the notice of Deputy Commissioner Bandipora during his tour to the village on Sunday.
On the direction of Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Reyaz Ahmad Beigh put the officer (Junior Engineer) under suspension and also directed to withhold the salary of other subordinate staff for failing to safeguard the public services infrastructure. The officer shall remain attached to the office of ACR during suspension.
He said the damage to the pipe line reflects the negligence of field officers who failed to safeguard the essential infrastructure of the government and Hence tantamount to dereliction of duty.
The Administration has also approached Police to lodge an FIR against the Sarpanch Farooq Ahmad of Hapatnar Quil Muqam who unauthorisedly damaged essential public service infrastructure without any prior clearance from the concerned department.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora said after the matter was brought to his notice, repair work was immediately started and has been restored now. He said the water supply to affected villages including Quil Muqam has been restored on late afternoon.
He said the there is zero tolerance to the lackadaisical and sluggish approach and warns action against any such approach by the officials. He said providing basic needs to the public are the motto of the government and no compromise shall be made in this regard.
