UP PWD Engineers against installing AC in the Swiss Cottage

Uttar Pradesh PWD Diploma Engineers Sangh were up in the arms against proposed action on junior engineer of the department for installing an AC in the Swiss Cottage erected for deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, during his recent `Chaupal’ at Kaudihar locality of Allahabad on April 28 last.

It may be mentioned that Maurya, was annoyed after seeing the AC in his cottage and had ordered strict action against the officials concerned. Sources said that soon after Maurya’s announcement of action, chief engineer of the PWD (Allahabad Division), SK Gupta held the JE, Naveen Kumar Srivastava guilty claiming that he ignored the orders for not putting up AC at the Swiss Cottage. Gupta recommended to place the JE under suspension.

Soon after Gupta issued recommendation, the members of the UP PWD Diploma Engineers Sangh raised their voice and had reportedly written to the government that the JE was made a scape gate as many senior officers visited the place as per the protocol and not raised any objection. The Sangh officials said that it is also surprising that when not even an order for putting up a Swiss Cottage was cleared by the Department so far than how the officers claimed that they issued direction of not putting up AC.  They claimed that it is wrong that just to appease the minister, a junior official should be punished instead of fixing the responsibility on the seniors. They claimed that they will launch an agitation if any further action has been initiated against the JE in the said matter.

Meanwhile a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of the PWD also met on Tuesday and cleared the promotion of 23 junior engineers as assistant engineer. This is after a long time when the timely promotion has been made. Last year, instead of promoting the JEs till June, the DPC was called in December.