Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, May 13: Referring to a letter received from the General Secretary of the District PRI Association of North and Middle Andaman District, the Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Diglipur Shri Dipankar Mistry has raised the issue of hindrance in developmental works due to delay in appointment of Executive Engineers (PRIs) in North & Middle Andaman.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Pramukh said that he reportedly received a letter from Shri Debabrata Das, General Secretary of the District PRI Association of North and Middle Andaman District and in which Mr. Das apprised him of the pressing issue caused by the vacant positions of Executive Engineer (PRIs) in North & Middle Andaman and Assistant Engineer (PRIs) in the Mayabunder Block and elaborated on how the absence of these key officials has led to a severe disruption in the progress of Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI) developmental works across the district’s 37 panchayats.
Based on the contents in the letter, Mr. Dipankar Mistry reportedly further wrote a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Secretariat, Sri Vijayapuram and Secretary, Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Bodies, Marine Hill, Sri Vijayapuram and apprised the higher authorities of the problems which were brewing up owing to the absence engineers in the PRIs.
After the retirement of former Executive Engineer Mr. Maheshwar Das on April 30, no new officer has been reportedly appointed to this post till now. Due to this delay, the implementation of approved projects is getting hampered. This is reportedly not the first time that unnecessary delays have been caused in the appointment of officers after their retirement, due to which important development work and infrastructure in the rural areas of North and Middle Andaman has been affected, the Pramukh claimed in the letter.
The Pramukh and the entire PRIs of N & M Andaman are reportedly concerned that minor works worth less than Rs 26 lakh have not been completed yet, as no concrete action has been taken on them, the Pramukh wrote. These projects did not receive adequate bids, and the concerned officials did not reportedly provide the necessary information or guidelines in time. He has come to know that the former Executive Engineer (EE) had sought guidance from the Director, Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Bodies on these issues, particularly on the minor works suggested by the Gram Sabhas of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP), but did not reportedly receive any response. Further, the members of the District PRI Association suggested that during the absence of the former Executive Engineer, Sattyabhal Sajjal successfully discharged the responsibilities of his post and did an excellent job and based on his seniority, he should be appointed to this post, the Pramukh argued in his letter.
Finally, Mr. Mistry urged the CS to fill these vacant posts expeditiously and provide clear guidelines and support to ensure timely execution of small budget works approved by the e-Gramswaraj/GPDP Gram Sabha of Panchayats. The Pramukh sounded hopeful and opined that the Chief Secretary will give priority to these issues and take necessary steps to ensure smooth progress of PRI works in the district, the letter further read.
