With rising demand for water and need for taking proper care of reservoirs and canals constructed so far in the State, the role of technical staff in Water Resources Department (WRD) has become all the more important. However, as per the official data, 41.25 per cent of the sanctioned posts of technical staff in WRD are lying vacant in Maharashtra.

The data up to September 2021, which was presented in the State Legislature in the recently concluded Budget Session, reveals that of a total 9,814 sanctioned posts of technical staff, as many as 4,075 are lying vacant. These posts include those in Junior Engineer to Chief Engineer cadres. In fact, when the issue came up for discussion, Jayant Patil, Water Resources Minister, admitted candidly that vacancies had resulted in additional burden of work on remaining staff.

In fact, WRD had started the process of filling up the vacant posts through Maharashtra Engineering Service Examination-2019. To fill up 581 posts, Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) conducted interviews between October 2021 and February 2022. These posts included seven of Assistant Executive Engineer, 21 posts of Assistant Engineer Grade-I, and 553 posts of Assistant Engineer Grade-II.

Further, MPSC had organised Maharashtra Engineering Service Examination-2020 (Mains) on December 18, 2021, to fill up 117 posts. These posts included five of Assistant Executive Engineer, 18 posts of Assistant Engineer Grade-I, and 94 posts of Assistant Engineer Grade-II. However, in Government’s own admission, it has not received recommendations of candidates from MPSC.

“We are just hoping that MPSC gives the list of recommended candidates to the Government, and the process of filling up the vacant posts is expedited. Though there is still no clarity about vacancies, other than those for which MPSC procedure was followed, filling up even these many posts will offer some relief as of now. But, it is utmost necessary to fill up vacant posts,” said an officer of WRD, preferring to be anonymous.