Member Legislative Assembly from Langate Sheikh Khursheed Monday locked the main gate of Jal Shakti Department Division Handwara after he found hardly any employee present in the office during working hours.
MLA Shiekh Khursheed while talking to Greater Kashmir said that a group of people from Batpora Langate had approached him to register a complaint that they were suffering due to lack of water. “I had told them to assemble at the Jal Shakti Department Division Handwara so that the issue could be taken up directly with the concerned officials,” he said.
“I reached the office at around 10:50 am and waited for nearly 10 minutes. However I found only one Junior Engineer (JE) out of eight had reported for duty while the Executive Engineer (Exn) and all Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) were absent,” he added.
While expressing strong resentment over the absence of officials, MLA Khursheed later locked the main gate of the division office, terming the situation unacceptable.
“People especially of my constituency are suffering due to an acute drinking water shortage but the officers who are supposed to redress the grievances are not even punctual to their duties. How ordinary people can expect any good from these officials when they are not punctual,” MLA added.
“Government offices are meant to serve the people and warned that such absenteeism and lack of accountability would not be tolerated in any means what so ever. I urge Jal Shakti Department to ensure the presence of officials in offices and take immediate steps to restore drinking water supply to the affected areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Handwara, Adnan Ashraf when contacted, said he was on an official visit to the Kralgund area at the time and was on his way back to the office.
