Chennai: About 25 per cent posts are lying vacant in government departments starting from secretariat to other local bodies. The situation in PWD is worse as top positions which were held by senior engineers, are vacant with many of them retiring last March.
According to official sources, the post of Chief engineer in PWD is now lying vacant. Also four senior positions related to maintenance and water management in reservoirs need to be filled up. Posts of executive engineers with PWD and state highways are also vacant.
Similarly, Chennai Metrowater and Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, the major departments that handle the sewer drains and drinking water supply are also facing shortage of engineers. “More than engineers, Metrowater lacks field staff to clear the drains using machines and there is a need to recruit more permanent staff”, said a depot supervisor who assigns staff to attend complaints. “In Greater Chennai Corporation, about 20 engineers are needed at the ward and zone level. With the civic body recruiting many engineers, the situation is better this time, when compared to other departments; but there is a need for more conservancy inspectors”, said S. Purushothaman, secretary, Chennai Managaratchi Anaithu Oozhiyar Sangham.
The secretariat association submitted petitions early this year seeking recruitment to vacant posts. Now, with the new government taking over, the issue will be looked into after the local body polls, said a senior official at the secretariat.
